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Pankewitz delights at Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo

May 9, 2017 | 3:31 PM

The third annual Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo went off without a hitch this weekend, attracting talent from across the country. 

One of the big winners of the show was 32-year-old Tyler Pankewtiz. He walked away with $1,387 after mastering the Duffry Rodeo bull, Blue Wing with 88.5 points.

It’s another achievement to start the Ponoka bull rider’s wild 2017 season. This time last year, Pankewitz was returning to action after being absent most of 2015 with an injury. Fast forward to now, with the past two weekends netting him $4,000 and scaling the standings to first place. 

After his injury and due to his age, Pankewitz said he plans to stick what he did last year and to not attend as many events as he did in the past. 

“I find as I get older, I’m not as worn out mentally and sore if I don’t try to go to everything all the time. I’m a young person but an old bull rider,” he said in a press release. 

Brett Buss and three-time Canadian champion heeler Tyrel Flewelling also snagged top spot in the newly added team roping. They finished with a 4.3 second run and $1,372 each to extend their leads atop the team roping header and heeling standings. 

Other champions include Saskatchewan’s Linden Woods in the bareback riding hooking a 84.5 on C+ Rodeo’s Bubbaganoosh for $1,303 and veteran Jim Berry in the bronc riding with a 83.5 on Duffy Rodeo’s Stix for $1,226. 

Twelve-time Canadian champion, Curtis Cassidy, prevailed in the tie down roping with an 8.3 second run to pocket $1,794 while the steer wrestling honors went to Jesse Lawes, whose 3.6 second run netted the Provost dogger $1,967.

Lastly in the barrel race, Melissa Theissen built came out strong with a blazing 13.145 second run to take home $1,929 and climb to third place in the standings. 

(With file from CPRA media release)