RODEO NOTES: 'Timing good' for first-time Stampede winner Wyatt Gleeson

Wyatt Gleeson caught a lucky break Sunday.

His fortunate draw of a bull that suits the Alberta cowboy’s riding form was a winning one.

And it helped put behind all the bad breaks — especially one — suffered in his 2024 rodeo season.

“I had a really good bull — I’ve seen him a few times,” said Gleeson, of Red Rocker, on whom he rode an impressive 86.5 score for the Day 3 victory and $7,200 at The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth. “Really consistent. Bucks really hard and fits into my style where I can show off a little bit. And that’s kind of what the gameplan was.

“I figured if I did my part, he’d be close to a round winner.”

The round win was the Sundre cowboy’s first-ever at Stampede.

And it comes on the heels of a rough go so far this season.

A broken foot suffered in late April at the Taber Spring Classic Pro Rodeo — courtesy of beastly Make it Clap — kept fouling up his rodeo hopes.

“I started off the year feeling pretty good — my timing was good,” Gleeson said. “And then I basically shattered my foot.

“Bucked really good and bucked me off. I was on the ground. Bull jumped on my foot. Kicked over the back of me and stepped on me with the back foot.”

The incident smashed a handful of bones in Gleeson’s foot. Included were a couple of spiral fractures.

But the cowboy turned down surgery and tried to return to riding a tad too early, which eventually led to more downtime.

And it’s only been a few weeks since the 29-year-old PRCA sophomore took off the air cast.

“It was a little bit of a rough go,” admitted Gleeson. “So … yeah … I’ve just got to put that behind me. I feel great now. It’s still a little bit of a pain in the butt.

“But if I can make a good ride, it feels a little better.”

His best ride before Sunday came during Cody Snyder’s Charity Bullbustin’ a few nights back.

Although it was fourth-place finish, the Alberta cowboy figures it lined him up well for the Stampede.

“A winning ride in my mind if it set me up to this point,” said Gleeson, who pocketed $12,900 from the three days of Pool A action at the Stampede to qualify him for Showdown Sunday alongside Calgary’s Nick Tetz ($26,700), Utah’s Hayes Weight ($12,900) and South Dakota’s Mason Moody ($6,900).

“That Bullbustin’ is an unreal event … really electric and great bulls,” added Gleeson. “And I had a really good bull the second day. It made a really good ride and gave me a lot of confidence coming in here.

“Pretty thankful for that event.”

MANNING UP

Taylor Manning’s third trip to the Stampede has been a charm so far.

With a third-place run Sunday in the barrel racing event, the 20-year-old Albertan clinched the fourth and final spot — snuck in, really — from Pool A participants for Showdown Sunday.

“This is the best I’ve done,” said Manning, of Yellowhead County, Alta. “I’m super thankful and happy with the horse (Bling) I have. She tried really hard.”

Try a solid 17.36 seconds hard.

That time claimed just enough to cash $4,500 to move her into an aggregate match of money — $9,750 — with South Dakota’s Jessica Routier. But the tiebreaker fell in Manning’s favour — the fastest time of the two competitors, which came Sunday — to grab a spot on the championship day.

Manning joins South Dakota’s Lisa Lockhart ($12,000) and Texans Tiany Schuster ($11,500) and Ashton Castleberry ($11,500) in moving forward to Showdown Sunday.

“I was a little bit nervous at the start — these are top role models I look up towards,” added Manning. “I’m just so happy to be here.

“It means a lot to do good at this big show.”

AROUND THE CHUTES

The 2024 Calgary Stampede novice bareback king is Denver Leitch, of Grimshaw, Alta. He was the only rider to stick Sunday during the third and final round of the event, and the 75.5-point performance aboard Deputy Sue shot him into top spot in the money aggregate for the championship win. Leitch pocketed a $4,000 three-day total, while Jace Lomheim, of Hughenden, Alta., finished second with $2,500 … Alberta’s Zeke Thurston won saddle bronc for a second-straight day with an After Party celebration of 88.5 points. California’s Lefty Holman was second on Day 3 to lift him to $10,000 total and onto the final day from Pool A with Thurston ($15,500), Idaho’s Riggin Smith ($12,500) and Layton Green ($10,292), of Millarville, Alta. … Tie-down roping legend Shad Mayfield shook off no-times on Days 1 and 2 to win Sunday and squeak into Showdown Sunday. The New Mexico cowboy was timed in a near-record 6.4 seconds for the $7,000 payday. Mayfield joins Texans Tuf Cooper ($17,500) and John Douch ($10,250) and Logan Bird ($7,875), of Nanton, Alta., to qualify for the championship day from Pool A … Cole Reiner won the bareback day and $7,000 with his 88.5-point ride aboard Twisted Tea, but the payday wasn’t enough to move him onto Showdown Sunday. The four making that jump from Pool A in bareback are Wyoming’s Leighton Berry ($17,750), Utah’s Mason Clements ($11,625), Louisiana’s Waylon Bourgeios ($8,750) and Texan Cole Franks ($8,250) … And Louisiana’s Jacob Talley won steer wrestling but — like Talley — the 4.5-second time and $7,000 didn’t move him onto Showdown Sunday. Instead, it’s Oregon’s Dalton Massey ($11,500), B.C.’s Stephen Culling ($11,250), Texan Don Payne ($11,000) and Scott Guenthner ($10,000) of Provost, Alta., getting the nod in bull-doggin’.

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CALGARY STAMPEDE

BAREBACK

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Cole Reiner (Buffalo, Wyo.), Twisted Tea, 88.5 points, $7,000; 2. Mason Clements (Spanish Fork, Utah), Zulu Warrior, 88.0, $5,500; 3. Leighton Berry (Weatherford, Texas), Two Buck Chuck, 85.5, $4,500; 4. Waylon Bourgeois (Church Point, La.), Misdemeanor, 85.0, $3,250; 5. Nick Pelke (Mondovi, Wisc.), Zastron Acres, 84.5, $2,000; 6. Cole Franks (Clarendon, Texas), Grandslam Baby, 84.0, $1,000; 7. Weston Timberman (Columbus, Mont.), Jungle James Sister, 81.0, $0; 8. Clint Laye (Cadogan, Alta.), French Agent, 79.5, $0; 9. Kade Sonnier (Carencro, La), Forged Warrior, 79.0, $0; 10. Dantan Bertsch (Ponoka, Alta.), Delicate Rose, 77.5, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Leighton Berry (Weatherford, Texas), $17,750; 2. Waylon Bourgeois (Church Point, La.), $11,625; 3. Mason Clements (Spanish Fork, Utah), $8,750; 4. Cole Franks (Clarendon, Texas), $8,250; 5. Cole Reiner (Buffalo, Wyo.), $8,000; 6. Nick Pelke (Mondovi, Wisc.), $7,500; 7. Weston Timberman (Columbus, Mont.), $4,000; 8. Kade Sonnier (Carencro, La), $3,875; 9. Dantan Bertsch (Ponoka, Alta.), $0; 9. Clint Laye (Cadogan, Alta.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

BARREL RACING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Emily Beisel (Weatherford, Okla.), 17.10 seconds, $7,000; 2. Ashley Castleberry (Montgomery, Texas), 17.33, $5,500; 3. Taylor Manning (Yellowhead County, Alta.), 17.36, $4,500; 4. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Lampasas, Texas), 17.37, $3,250; 5. Jessica Routier (Buffalo, S.D.), 17.39, $2,000; 6. Lisa Lockhart (Oelrichs, S.D.), 17.43, $1,000; 7. Karli Cowie (Mankota, Sask.), 17.47, $0; 8. Tiany Schuster (Krum, Texas), 17.68, $0; 9. Sue Smith (Blackfoot, Idaho), 17.82, $0; 10. Bailey Smith (Marwayne, Alta.), 18.17, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Ashley Castleberry (Montgomery, Texas), $12,500; 2. Lisa Lockhart (Oelrichs, S.D.), $12,000; 3. Tiany Schuster (Krum, Texas), $11,500; 4. Taylor Manning (Yellowhead County, Alta.), $9,750; 4. Jessica Routier (Buffalo, S.D.), $9,750; 6. Emily Beisel (Weatherford, Okla.), $7,000; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Lampasas, Texas) $5,250; 8. Karli Cowie (Mankota, Sask.) $1,000; 8. Sue Smith (Blackfoot, Idaho), $1,000; 10. Bailey Smith (Marwayne, Alta.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

NOVICE BAREBACK

Sunday — Day 3

1. Denver Leitch (Grimshaw, Alta.), Deputy Sue, 75.5, $4,000; 2. Brady Schlesiger (Sturgeon County, Alta.), Expose Not, bucked off, $0; 2. Chase McNulty (Biggar, Sask.), General Lynx, BO, $0; 2. Jace Lomheim (Hughenden, Alta.), September Skies, BO, $0; — Rhett Tattrie (Hanna, Alta.), turned out, $0; — Morgan Frail (Weyburn, Sask.), turned out, $0.

Final — after three rounds

1. Denver Leitch (Grimshaw, Alta.), $4,000; 2. Jace Lomheim (Hughenden, Alta.), $2,500; 3. Brady Schlesiger (Sturgeon County, Alta.), $1,500; 4. Chase McNulty (Biggar, Sask.), $1,000; 5. Rhett Tattrie (Hanna, Alta.), $700; 5. Morgan Frail (Weyburn, Sask.), $700.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

TIE-DOWN ROPING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Shad Mayfield (Clovis, N.M.), 6.4 seconds, $7,000; 2. Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas), 7.4, $5,500; 3. Kyle Lucas (Carstairs, Alta.), 8,1, $4,500; 4. Blane Cox (Stephenville, Texas), 12.3, $2,625; 4. Logan Bird (Nanton, Alta.), 12.3, $2,635; 6. Chance Thiessen (Tuttle, Okla.), no time, $0; 7. John Douch (Huntsville, Texas), NT, $0; 8. Shane Smith (Wimborne, Alta.), NT, $0; 9. Caleb Smidt (Bellville, Texas), NT, $0; 10. Marcos Costa (Iretama, Brazil), NT, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Tuf Cooper (Decatur, Texas), $17,500; 2. John Douch (Huntsville, Texas), $10,250; 3. Logan Bird (Nanton, Alta.), $7,875; 4. Shad Mayfield (Clovis, N.M.), $7,000; 5. Chance Thiessen (Tuttle, Okla.), $6,500; 5. Shane Smith (Wimborne, Alta.), $6,500; 7. Kyle Lucas (Carstairs, Alta.), $5,500; 8. Marcos Costa (Iretama, Brazil), $5,000; 9. Blane Cox (Stephenville, Texas), $2,625; 10. Caleb Smidt (Bellville, Texas), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

SADDLE BRONC

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Zeke Thurston (Big Valley, Alta.), After Party, 88.5 points, $7,000; 2. Lefty Holman (Visalia, Calif.), York Alabama, 87.0, $5,500; 3. Parker Fleet (Axtell, Texas), Uvid Bubbles, 86.0, $4,500; 4. Layton Green (Millarville, Alta.), Y U R Frisky, 85.0, $2,625; 4. Sage Newman (Melstone, Mont.), Sargeant Whiskey, 85.0, $2,625; 6. Statler Wright (Beaver, Utah), Miss Chestnut Legacy, 83.5, $1,000; 7. Logan Cook (Alto, Texas), Yuppie Bubbles, 82.5, $0; 7. Tanner Butner (Daniel, Wyo.), Peigan Warrior (re-ride), 82.5, $0; 8. Riggin Smith (Winterset, Idaho), Umber Bubbles, 79.5, $0; 10. Sterling Crawley (Stephenville, Texas), Chrome, bucked off, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Zeke Thurston (Big Valley, Alta.), $15,500; 2. Riggin Smith (Winterset, Idaho), $12,500; 3. Lefty Holman (Visalia, Calif.), $10,000; 4. Layton Green (Millarville, Alta.), $9,666,67; 5. Sage Newman (Melstone, Mont.), $8,041.67; 6. Sterling Crawley (Stephenville, Texas), $7,041.67; 7. Parker Fleet (Axtell, Texas), $4,500; 8. Logan Cook (Alto, Texas), $1,500; 9. Statler Wright (Beaver, Utah), $1,000; 10. Tanner Butner (Daniel, Wyo.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

STEER WRESTLING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Jacob Talley (Keatchie, La.), 4.5 seconds, $7,000; 2. Justin Shaffer (Hico, Texas), 5.0, $5,500; 3. Scott Guenthner (Provost, Alta.), 5,1, $4,500; 4. Stephen Culling (Fort St. John, B.C.), 5.9, $3,250; 5. Walt Arnold (Coleman, Texas), 6.0, $2,000; 6. Don Payne (Stephenville, Texas), 7.3, $1,000; 7. Will Lummus (Byhalia, Miss.), 14.9, $0; 8. Dalton Massey (Hermiston, Ore.), 15.6, $0; 9. Nick Guy (Sparta, Wisc.), no time, $0; 9. Tucker Allen (Ventura, Calif.), NT, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Dalton Massey (Hermiston, Ore.), $11,500; 2. Stephen Culling (Fort St. John, B.C.), $11,250; 3. Don Payne (Stephenville, Texas), $11,000; 4. Scott Guenthner (Provost, Alta.), $10,000; 5. Jacob Talley (Keatchie, La.), $9,000; 6. Justin Shaffer (Hico, Texas), $8,750; 7. Walt Arnold (Coleman, Texas), $5,250; 8. Tucker Allen (Ventura, Calif.), $2,000; 9. Nick Guy (Sparta, Wisc.), $1,000; 10. Will Lummus (Byhalia, Miss.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday

BULL RIDING

POOL A

Sunday — Day 3

1. Wyatt Gleeson (Sundre, Alta.), Red Rocker, 86.5, $7,200; 2. Hayes Weight (Goshen, Utah), Dark Mark, 86.0, $5,700; 3. Maverick Smith (Mountain Grove, Mo.), Calibration, 82.5, $4,075; 3. Ashton Sahli (Red Deer, Alta.), Stray Bullet, 82.5; $4,075; 5. Mason Moody (Letcher, S.D.), Thunder Dome, 80.0, $2,200; 6. Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alta.), Black Panther, bucked off, $0; 6. Luke Mast (Hutchinson, Kan.), Money Talks, BO, $0; 6. Jacob Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.), Rock Salt and Nails, BO, $0; 6. Edgar Durazo (Moctezuma, Mexico), Church Bells, BO, $0; 6. Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), BO, $0.

Aggregate — after three rounds

1. Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alta.), $26,700; 2. Wyatt Gleeson (Sundre, Alta.), $12,900; 2. Hayes Weight (Goshen, Utah), $12,900; 4. Mason Moody (Letcher, S.D.), $6,900; 5. Maverick Smith (Mountain Grove, Mo.), $4,075; 6. Ashton Sahli (Red Deer, Alta.), $4,075; 7. Edgar Durazo (Moctezuma, Mexico), $2,200; 8. Jacob Gardner (Fort St. John, B.C.), $0; 8. Tristen Hutchings (Monteview, Idaho), $0; 8. Luke Mast (Hutchinson, Kan.), $0.

bolded — advances to Showdown Sunday