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Canadian Professional Rodeo Association announces 2021 award winners

Award winners will be recognized Nov. 2 at the CPRA Night of Champions in Red Deer
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The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has selected Dennis Halstead as Comedy Act of the Year for the 10th time. (Photo contributed)

The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has announced its 2021 award recipients.

Several repeat winners top the list, decided by votes cast by the top 20 contestants in all major events, novice contestants and CPRA contract members.

Brett Gardiner is being recognized as Canada’s Announcer of the Year for a record tenth consecutive time. Commentator, teacher, public speaker and family man, Gardiner brings his special talent to every rodeo performance. Another standout award recipient is Dennis Halstead who has been selected as the Comedy Act of the Year, also for the tenth time.

Other repeat winners include Steer Riding Contractor of the Year Duane Ashbacher of Lazy 2 Rodeo and Dress Act of the Year, Full Throttle Trick Riders (Shelby Pierson and Piper Yule).

Vern McDonald of Bar C5 Rodeo has been named Stock Contractor of the Year. McDonald (along with his C5 Rodeo team) continues to make his mark producing outstanding rodeos on both sides of the 49th parallel. Timer and rodeo secretary Karry Krystal is being honoured with the Janet Vold Memorial award.

Among the top stock of 2021 is Macza Pro Rodeo’s super star CFR-NFR mare 118 OLS Tubs Stevie Knicks who earned the accolade for the second straight year. Top Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year is Calgary Stampede’s W-16 Wild Cherry. The 12-year-old CFR and NFR selected gelding is sired by the legendary Grated Coconut, out of Flavoured Cherry and is a three-time CFR Champion as well. And Vold Rodeo’s 545 Timber Jam is the top Bull of the Year. The muley Hereford cross — home raised on the ranch in Ponoka — was selected for the 2018 PBR Canada Finals.

Other award-winning rodeo stock include Curtis Cassidy’s Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, Dashin Haze (Tyson) who is being recognized for the third consecutive year; Justine Elliott’s mare, Blondys Starlight (Blondy) who is being honoured as the Barrel Racing Horse with the Most Heart for the second straight year and Keely Bonnett’s Heeling Horse of the Year, Cruz, also a second time winner. Logan Bird’s Peso, is the Tie Down Roping Horse of the Year while Grady Branden’s Junior has earned Heading Horse of the Year.

Also announced are award-winning Timers Maxine Baird who has an outstanding 32 CFR appearances to her credit and Brenda Vold who will be heading to her 16th Finals. CFR bullfighters are Brett Monea, enjoying an impressive tenth CFR, Ty Prescott (fourth appearance) and CFR first timer, Kris Buffalo. Pickup men are Tyler Kraft (second CFR) and Tyler Thomson who makes his first trip to the Peavey Mart Centrium at Westerner Park Nov 3-7. The alternate (on-call) pick man is Jason Resch.

All CPRA Award Winners will be recognized Nov. 2 at the CPRA Night of Champions, Cambridge Red Deer Hotel and Conference Centre.