Aboard a horse named Steely Dan, Armstrong cowboy Jaret Cooper did some Dirty Work and won a Canadian title.
Cooper 鈥� born 31 years after the American rock band released the hit song on their 1972 album Can鈥檛 Buy A Thrill 鈥� sat astride Macza Pro Rodeo鈥檚 Squash Blossom Steely Dan in the bucking chutes at the Canadian Finals Rodeo at the Red Deer Centrium Friday, Nov. 3, ready to give the capacity crowd a thrill.
He gripped the riding rope with his right hand, nodded for the workers to open the gate, stayed on for the mandatory eight-second count, and rode Steely Dan to a third-round best 76.
His score was good to win the round and earn him the top prize of $1,020, his only paycheque in the three performances. But the last ride, combined with his regular season earnings, gave Cooper a total of $20,833.97 for the year, and earned him the title of 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo Novice Saddlebronc champion.
鈥淕oing into the ride, I knew I had to have the best score and I drew a pretty good horse to do it on,鈥� said Cooper, 20. 鈥淚t really hasn鈥檛 sunk in yet that I won it.鈥�
Dylan Young of Sturgeon Country, Alta., who had the best score of 79.75 in Thursday鈥檚 second performance, rode Shorty to a 72.5 in the final go. He finished less than $400 behind Cooper for the championship buckle.
Colten Powell of Sylvan Lake, Alta. was third. He was bucked off Bail Bond in the final round.
While the novice saddlebronc division has been good to Cooper 鈥� he has won the event at the Junior World Finals, Calgary Stampede, Williams Lake Stampede and was the Canadian and B.C. regular-season champion in the event this year 鈥� he鈥檚 ready to further his career.
鈥淚鈥檝e got a couple years of eligibility left in novice but I think I鈥檓 ready to make the move up (to saddlebronc),鈥� he said.
Reflecting on what he calls 鈥渕y best season ever,鈥� Cooper will have a ton of memories.
鈥淵ou know, I think about the times riding 14 hours through the night to get to the rodeos,鈥� said Cooper. 鈥淎nd to win the CFR makes it so worth it.鈥�
Cooper plans to take some time off before resuming practice for the 2024 Canadian Pro Rodeo Association season.
READ MORE: Armstrong cowboy sits third at Canadian Finals Rodeo
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