A strong start to the Canadian Cowboys Association rodeo season for several local competitors.

Leader's Davis Young captured the bull riding title at the Kindersley rodeo, while Maple Creek's Coy Cronkhite won the junior steer riding event in Unity. Stewart Valley's Austynn Knudsen also claimed top spot in Unity, winning the junior girls barrel racing competition.

Young rode Black Fly to an 84-point score to earn $1,552 in Kindersley. Cronkhite posted 69 points in junior steer riding, while Knudsen's winning barrel racing run of 17.3 seconds earned her $684.

Rodeo schedule allows competitors to double up

The two Canadian Cowboys Association-sanctioned rodeos provided competitors with an opportunity to compete at multiple events over the long weekend. Kindersley's rodeo ran from Thursday through Saturday, while Unity hosted its event Saturday and Sunday. With the two communities located just over an hour apart, many cowboys and cowgirls were able to enter both rodeos.

Other local highlights in Kindersley included Rockglen's Katie Anderson, who finished second in ladies breakaway roping with a time of 2.5 seconds and earnings of $1,926. Consul's Braden Brost and Morse's Tuftin McLeod teamed up for a 5.5-second run in team roping, placing fourth and earning $1,046 each. Beechy's Allee Kapeller added a fifth-place finish in ladies barrel racing with a time of 13.6 seconds, good for $1,217.

Additional local placings in Kindersley included Rockglen's Jill Marcenko, who was fifth in ladies breakaway roping, and Stewart Valley's Austynn Knudsen, who finished fourth in junior girls barrel racing. Maple Creek's Coy Cronkhite placed fourth in junior steer riding, while fellow Maple Creek competitor Tate Beierbach was fourth in steer wrestling. In tie-down roping, Braden Brost finished fifth and Tuftin McLeod was eighth. Mankota's April Williamson added an eighth-place finish in ladies barrel racing.

Unity produces more local success

Unity also produced several strong results for southwest competitors. Morse's Mallory McLeod finished second in ladies barrel racing with a run of 17.57 seconds, earning $1,620. Eastend's Austin Arnal placed second in bull riding with a 76-point ride, while Morse's Tuftin McLeod was second in tie-down roping after posting a time of 9.3 seconds to earn $1,101. Scott and Tyce McLeod added a second-place finish in team roping with a 6.1-second run, collecting a combined $1,857.

Consul's Braden Brost placed third in tie-down roping, while Mankota's Shane Williamson was fourth and Val Marie's Colt Kornfeld finished fifth. Maple Creek's Danae Zieffle placed fourth in ladies breakaway roping. In ladies barrel racing, Mankota's Kiera Williamson finished fifth and Kate Beierbach was sixth. Tuftin McLeod and Brost added a fifth-place finish in team roping, while Maple Creek's Dillan Kraft and Bayne Wilson were sixth.

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