(Covy Moore/CovyMoore.com)

By CPRA

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Pro Rodeo Canada announces 2022 award winners

Oct 1, 2022 | 10:22 AM

With the conclusion of the regular season, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) is pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of its year-end awards for 2022. These awards are decided by votes cast by the top 20 contestants in all major events and CPRA contract members. Event specific awards are voted on by top 20 in that event only. Junior Steer riders vote only on steer riding contractor of the year.

An individual who needs little introduction is a man who has become a familiar figure at events across Canada – including the biggest rodeos in the business. His thorough knowledge, personable manner, outstanding work ethic and talent make Brett Gardiner a great choice for the 2022 Announcer of the Year award. Gardiner, from Sylvan Lake, Alberta, wins this honour for the 11^th consecutive time.

A duo that enjoys entertaining fans with their athleticism and horsemanship are Specialty Dress Act award winners, Shelby Pierson and Piper Yule—the Full Throttle Trick Riders. This is the third time the electric combination have won the award.

In the Stock Contractor of the Year category, Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo is this year’s winner. Duane, Margo and Chase run their award-winning operation from near Raymond, Alberta and represent four generations of stock contracting excellence on both sides of the border.

The Steer Riding Contractor of the Year – voted on by the steer riders – is repeat winner Duane Ashbacher and the Lazy 2 Rodeo outfit.

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The Janet Vold Memorial award – which commemorates the life and contributions of the late Janet Vold – 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. A person who took the time to visit with each cowboy or cowgirl, Janet was respected greatly in the rodeo world with her larger than life love and knowledge of the sport. This year’s recipient is rodeo timer and secretary, Karry Krystal.

In the Specialty Comedy Act category, the 2022 winner – for the first time in his long and successful career – is Sherwood Park, Alberta’s Rick (Ricky Ticky) Wanchuk.

Animal of the Year selections

The Ladies Barrel Racing Horse with the Most Heart is first time winner, Fame N Red Hot or Hot Donna. This 15 year old mare, by Dash Ta Fame and out of a daughter of Docs Rocky Top, is owned and jockeyed by Shelby Spielman.

A relatively new event on the rodeo scene is Ladies Breakaway Roping. New as well this year is the Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year award. Bradi Whiteside’s horse, Hott for Teacher (aka Teacher) is the 2022 winner.

The Team Roping Heeling Horse of the Year, for the third consecutive time, is Keely Bonnett’s Coys Smokin Jet (Cruz). And keeping it all in the family, this year’s Team Roping Heading Horse of the Year is Logan Bonnett’s gelding, Tito Boon, (Tito). This marks the second time (the first was 2019) that the Bonnett brothers’ talented duo won both awards the same year.

Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year is back-to-back winner, Logan Bird’s exceptional gelding, Daddys Shiner Cat or Peso. The Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, for an impressive fourth time, is Curtis Cassidy’s Dashin Haze (aka: Tyson).

Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year for the sixth time is the legendary Macza Rodeo’s 242 OLS Tubs Get Smart. With three Best of CFR awards as well as World and WNFR titles on his resume, the 20-year-old gelding will be retiring at the end of this season. The Bull of the Year is Duane Kesler Championship Rodeo’s 731 Alberta Prime Devil’s’s Advocate. And Bareback Horse of the Year is Macza Rodeo’s three-time winner – 118 OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks.

All CPRA Award Winners will be recognized Nov 1 at the CPRA Night of Champions, Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, Red Deer. Look for a follow-up announcement soon naming key CFR personnel.

(CPRA media release)