Central Albertans among year-end Pro Rodeo Canada award winners

Brett Gardiner (Sylvan Lake): Rodeo announcer, Brett Gardiner, the man behind the microphone at many prominent Canadian events including the CFR, has been awarded a record 15th consecutive Announcer of the Year award. Gardiner is a much sought-after, talented professional, who in addition to announcing rodeos and bull riding events across Canada, works as a clinical psychologist in the sport mental health field.

Annie Simpson (Ponoka) and Piper Yule (Wardlow, Alberta): Yule and Simpson have earned the 2026 Specialty Dress Act of the Year, Piper for the seventh time and Annie for the second consecutive year. The young entertainers provide dynamic performances involving athlete and equine excellence at rodeos and special events throughout the season. Both young women are thrilled to be recognized, once again, by their colleagues and peers.

Dusty Daines (Innisfail): Janet Vold Memorial Award winner — The Innisfail, Alberta timer is a first-time winner. This award commemorates the life and contributions of the late Janet Vold and recognizes women in the sport of rodeo who go above and beyond. The namesake of the award, Janet Vold, enjoyed a rodeo secretary career that spanned three decades. Janet was a person who took the time to visit with each contestant; she was respected greatly in the rodeo world with her larger than life love and knowledge of the sport.

Curtis Cassidy (Donalda): Dashin Haze or Tyson, owned by Curtis Cassidy, is once again the Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. This exceptional equine athlete has been celebrated by the CPRA seven times and the PRCA three times. The former graded stakes-placed racehorse turned bull dogging legend has mounted cowboys at some of the biggest rodeos in both the CPRA and PRCA.

And Cassidy was excited to learn that his hazing horse A Double Corona (Doubles), was named the CPRA Hazing Horse of the Year for the second time around. Cassidy has a number of horses in his program from race backgrounds. (Doubles has $400,000 in race earnings alone.) Also of interest is the fact that both horses were bred and raised by Texas equine veterinarian Dr Tommy Hays … a compelling point with Tyson 21 years of age and Doubles only 8.

Kash Bonnett (Ponoka): This year’s Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year is 11-year-old Boy Wrangler Lark (aka Joe) owned by reigning Canadian Champion Kash Bonnett. “I’m excited,” Bonnett (the youngest of three Ponoka team roping brothers) commented. “This year has been like no other. We’ve had a lot of success on Joe… we caught a lot of steers and our confidence is high. Logan (Bonnett) rode him quite a bit too.”

Logan Cullen (Ponoka): And the Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year is CB Flashin Whizard (Whiz) owned by Kash’s partner – and defending Heeling Champ, Logan Cullen. “It’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to win this award,” said Cullen. “Whiz is really solid and always getting better. I know what to expect; and it helps having confidence in your horse.”

2026 Bull of the Year in Canada is Vold Rodeo’s (Ponoka) -116 All Gold Rolex: A five-year-old son of All Gold Everything that Nansen Vold acquired from Ty and Barry Prescott as a two-year-old. “He was big and wild at first and it took a lot of work to get him to where he is now,” Nansen Vold recounted. “But I’m not surprised he won the award. He’s just gotten better and better. He’s intimidating and kind of mean; they get on him, with all that size and leg, they know they’re on something. He has the attitude and he‘s got a big, really hard first jump, then he gets pretty nice to ride, either left or right.” Although All Gold Rolex bucks off a lot of guys, Grady Young was 90 points on him in the four-round at the 2026 Ponoka Stampede.

Winners and sponsors will be celebrated at the CPRA Night of Champions on October 6 in Edmonton.

A full list of winners is here.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Central Albertans among year-end Pro Rodeo Canada award winners

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