In Tie-Down Roping, Jason Smith's fellow rookie, Darren Dublanko successfully completes the round in 8.8 seconds on the first night of the Canadian Finals Rodeo. He ties for second place on Wednesday, Nov. 3 with Wyatt Hayes. (Alessia Proietti)

By Alessia Proietti

CFR: It's all in the family

Learn the Ropes: Canadian Finals Rodeo

Nov 8, 2021 | 3:21 PM

As the city of Red Deer packs up from the eventful Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR), it still remains the talk of the town. Perhaps it’s the excitement from the action or the majestic horses and bulls that sprint across the dirt. Or maybe, it is the bringing together of families to watch the show. The value of family not only fills the stands, but runs deep in the rodeo itself.

The same phrase sang through the arena over five days, “Next up, from a great family and a long line of champions…”, the color commentator would say. Between barrel racing and bull riding, one category seemed to be the most woven ancestrally: tie roping.

Team Roping consists of two ropers on horses with the goal of catching a steer. All starting from boxes, the header aims to rope the head or horns of the steer and, once accomplished, turns the steer to expose its back legs for the other roper, the heeler, to wrap both in one rope throw.

Requiring meticulous skill, timing and teamwork, the McLeod family showed their close ties to the sport, winning the first two nights and ranking number one overall in this year’s CFR.

Raised in an indoor riding facility, the Triple T arena, outside Swift Current, Saskatchewan, father Scott McLeod, known as “the Anvil”, competed in multiple rodeo competitions solo and later with his three sons, Tuftin, Tyce and Tee.

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Scott showed his sons the ropes to the sport, as the brothers competed together in high school rodeos, qualifying for nationals each year. The eldest, Tuftin, won Rookie of the year in 2010 at 15-years-old. Younger brothers Tyce and Tee went to New Mexico Junior College in the Arts and Sciences on full rodeo scholarships.

Even when the McLeods were at the bottom of the barrel, they supported each other’s rodeo careers. In 2018, the Tyce and Tuftin duo were ranking low in the ratings and for brother Tyce, also low in cash flow. Older brother Tuftin stepped in and paid their way through the season, where they ended as qualifiers for the Canadian Finals Rodeo, because, that’s what family does.

This year, the siblings achieved much success.

Tee McLeod, as header, partnered with childhood friend and nearby neighbor Brady Chappel, the heeler, to win first place for the first two nights of the CFR, having a time of 4.3 and 4.1 seconds respectively.

“We don’t really think too much about it, we do our deal. We grew up enough together; we know what we’re all going to do,” McLeod told rdnewsNOW.

Having won competitions together before, the pairing was a perfect match. Chappel, a veteran roper, also learned the skill from his father and now teaches his own two sons.

While all three brothers ended up competing in the CFR with other partners, this year’s championship went to Tyce McLeod and Clay Ullery, with an average time of 25.6 seconds. Tee McLeod and Brady Chappel ranked third with 31.9 seconds, and eldest brother Tuftin McLeod and Kody Potts earned seventh with 34.7 seconds.

Tie-Down Roping, the second roping event and known as the most technical in the rodeo, is on an individual level. The roper must catch a calf while on horseback, then run down the rope to pin the calf to the ground by hand and tie any three legs together with pigging string, holding for six seconds.

This year’s first night winner went to Jason Smith, with a time of 7.7 seconds. Named 2017 Foothills Cowboy Association Rookie of the Year, Smith competed against his brother Shane Smith in the category.

“I got two other brothers and my dad ropes. We all rope together and push each other to be better,” said Smith.

Smith grew up and continues to live on their family farm in Wimborne, Alberta, roping religiously every day with his siblings and coached by his father.

“That’s what all my family did so it was just my only option,” he said.

This year’s winner for tie-down roping was Riley Warren of Sundre, Alberta. While Jason wasn’t successful in completing enough rounds, his brother Smith finished in sixth with 47.7 seconds.

Rodeo becomes a family tradition for those who partake in it. It spans generations, demonstrated by the CFR’s novice categories of young cowboys and cowgirls wanting to follow in their parents’ footsteps. It takes time and dedication to learn the ropes, but once done, the skills are tightly bound for life.