The Canadian Finals Rodeo returns to Edmonton this week.
CFR 50 is being held at Rogers Centre following a six year run at Westerner Park in Red Deer.
For steer wrestler Matt Richardson from Olds this will be his third time as a qualifier for the CFR and all his previous appearances were in Red Deer. He talks about the experience he has gained in the past. Richardson says “when I first got to go there I got to haze for Clayton Moore. He was riding my bulldogging horse at the time and so he brought me on hazing. So I kind of got a taste of being around it and kind of what it took to get there. Obviously, making it a couple other times in Red Deer was great but now third time I’m ready to try and take it to the next level and do some damage.”
Richardson finished in 10th place this season in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association standings and the top 12 in each major rodeo event qualify for the Canadian Finals.
He earned just under $20,000 dollars in 2024 to sit right behind Morgan Grant from Didsbury who was 9th and Johnny Webb from Okotoks who was 8th. Richardson is pretty proud of his traveling group to have all three of them make it to the CFR.
Richardson’s best finish in the past at the CFR was a second place in the go round, so this year he will be looking to earn a go round buckle and win first place day money. He says “yeah its a big deal, obviously, not only making it but you’re one of the guys that’s been there a couple times so it’s very satisfying to be able to compete with the top guys in Canada but also know that you are there for a reason and try and get some money won. Obviously, the goal would be out of there to get qualified for the Calgary Stampede.”
Landon Beardsworth from Red Deer County enters the CFR at the top of the money list in steer wrestling with more than $39,250 in earnings this season. Ryan Shuckburgh from Innisfail is a close second with $39,241.20.
CFR 50 in Edmonton starts with the opening performance on Wednesday, October 2nd. There will be a total of 5 performances between Wednesday and Saturday night.
For tickets and more details head online to cfr.ca.
Listen to 96.5 CKFM’s conversation with Matt Richardson.