After a slow start to the spring for Wimborne’s Jason Smith, he was happy to get on the board Saturday night at the annual Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo.
The 22-year-old tie-down roper finished with a quick 8.4 seconds to sit second place in the standings ahead of championship Sunday.
“I got a really good start and had him roped. My horse tried to get him away from me a little fast and I had to get him tied fast. But it worked out good,” he said.
Smith was positioned to take a run at the title on Sunday with Kyle Lucas ahead of Smith with a time of 8.2 seconds.
“I’ve had a rough spring but I’m actually winning Stavely right now and winning second here so it’s going to be a good weekend,” he added.
Lucas’s 8.2-second run ended up good enough to help him capture the title, with Smith’s 8.4-second run was good for second place overall and a $2,387.60 payout.
Smith competed alongside his brothers Shane and Blair Smith who also take part in tie-down roping. He explained the experience of battling alongside family is awesome.
“We go to all the rodeos together so we’re spending lots of time together. When we’re all winning it’s really fun,” Smith added.
“This is definitely our hometown rodeo so it’s pretty awesome to do well here.”
All three brothers grew up in central Alberta more specifically in Wimborne which is just east of Innisfail. Their father Garnet Smith also competed professionally in tie-down roping for years including a number of Canadian Finals Rodeo appearances.
“When we were young we started doing it and we’ve always loved it,” Smith said.
“He’s taught us everything we’ve known from roping to riding to tying. He’s probably the only person I’ve ever learned from.”
Smith made it to the Canadian Finals Rodeo for the first time in 2021 and again in 2022. This year he hopes to make it the third year in a row.
He tied down his first calve at just seven years old and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
“It’s all we’ve ever done.”
Dallas Hay won the bareback riding with an 86-point run on C5 Rodeo’s Kanins Pet. In Steer Wrestling, Coleman Kohorst went 3.4 seconds for the victory, while Coltin Crawford and Scott Guenthner tied for second at 3.8 seconds. Clay Ullery/Jake Edwards tied with Jeremy Buhler/Rhen Richard, 4.3 seconds, to split top spot in team roping. In the Saddle Bronco, Wyatt Casper earned the title with an 87.5-point ride on C5 Rodeo’s -701 Black Jack. Traci MacDonald won barrel racing in 15.94 seconds and Tyler Craig won bull riding with an 86.5-point on Vold Rodeo’s 502 By The Beach. Aubrey Ross and Cora Ann Borman tied for top spot in breakaway roping with a time of 2.1 seconds.
