YORKTON - Topping a rodeo event at the Calgary Stampede puts you at the top of the sport in North America.
You get to hoist the massive bronze trophy and to grab onto the $50,000 cheque and hear the crowd cheer.
But imagine the thrill of being a bull rider and you go through the entire Stampede besting every bull you climb on!
Well that is just what Maple Creek, Sask. cowboy Jared Parsonage experienced Sunday.
“It’s up there. It’s a good one, that’s for sure,” said Parsonage in an interview with Yorkton This Week Monday.
The cowboy said when it comes to big wins two stand out a Canadian title and the Stampede.
Certainly growing up in Maple Creek the Stampede was something Parsonage said he followed.
“Big time. I think it’s special for all Canadian rodeo cowboys. You grow up watching the Calgary Stampede and the Canadian Championships,” he said. “ . . . It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along too often. . . It’s one of those things you’ll never forget.”
Parsonage started his week winning Pool B with a perfect three-for-three performance,
Parsonage, currently ranked No. 3 in the PBR Canada national standings, started things in pool action with 78.5 points on Toothless Smile and followed that up with 83.5 points on Blue Magic. With his final pool ride he won the day with 85 points on Devils Advocate.
It was off to the semi finals, 12 riders battling for four spots in the $50K finals.
In the semifinals, Parsonage finished second behind Stetson Wright thanks to his 88-point ride on Red Rocker, advancing to the final round with Wright, Creek Young of the Texas Rattlers, and Trey Kimzey of the Carolina Cowboys.
When it came to Sunday’s finals Parsonage was the only man to make the eight-second whistle scoring 89 points aboard Wild Time.
His winnings for the week totalled $68,233.33.
“I had some good draws. I made some good rides on some good bulls,” he said.
As for Wild Time with the title on the line, it was the bull Parsonage wanted.
“I knew the bull. I had rode him before earlier on in the spring,” he said. “. . . “He was (the one he wanted). That’s for sure.”
The win had to be sweeter given Parsonage has been something of a Stampede finals bridesmaid in recent years having finished second at the 2019 Calgary Stampede and third last year.
“Definitely to finally get it done is a big relief,” he said, adding the challenge now is to get back to the final four next year and retain the title.
Don’t bet against it happening as Parsonage has a knack for riding big in big events.
At the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals, presented by Command Tubular Products, there was no rider more dominant than Parsonage.
Parsonage first put points on the board in the opening rounds riding Slingin Stones for 84.5 points and Jayded for 82.5 points.
The Saskatchewan rider then surged to the top of the event leaderboard when he won Round 3 via an 88.5-point ride on Hard Not To Get.
Then at the national finals event with the first pick in the championship round bull draft, Parsonage picked Al Capone (Wild Hoggs/Sure Fire). He logged the high-marked ride of the event, scored 89 points to clinch the PBR Canada National Finals event win.
At the Stampede Parsonage was one of four Canadians to win their respective events, joining tie-down roper Beau Cooper, saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay and steer wrestler Scott Guenthner.
