Rodeo growth levels off

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Canada's rodeo showcase took a bit of a hit this year, as attendance didn't live up to early predictions by Edmonton Northlands of a new record. Crowds at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, which had seen more paying customer every year for each of the previous nine years, fell by about 3,000 for the five-day event.

A disastrous attendance slip for the Thursday-night performance accounted for most of that, but no significant increases were tallied on the other two go rounds where there had been lots of empty seats in 1994. Those seats, on Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon, stayed empty in 1995.

The crowds were still good at the Edmonton Coliseum, and the sport was, as always, entertaining. The fine performances included a record-tying 7.5-second run by Darren Shaw of Cardston, Alta., in the calf roping on Saturday night. Shaw, who had come into the CFR as the sixth placer in his event on winnings of $18,230, came back with a 7.6-second performance on Sunday afternoon to seal his lead in the championship, and to win the Canadian High Point Award. Calf ropers were four of the top five money winners over the 1995 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association season.

In spite of a spirited last-day ride by Edmontonian Roger Lacasse, Davey Shields Jr. of Hanna, Alta., won the bareback title. Lacasse, the only non-calf roper to break the top five in the seasonal money, had hushed the crowd on Saturday night as he was dragged unconscious for a full lap of the arena after being head-butted by his horse. He had held a slight lead over Shawn Vant of Millet, Alta., and defending champion Bill Boyd of Olds, Alta., coming into the rodeo, but Shields placed high in the early rounds and it was enough to win.

The bull riding was wide open in 1995, due to the retirement of Calgary's Wade Joyal and 1994 world champion Daryl Mills of Pink Mountain, B.C. No one rider was dominant in the marquee event, but Wes Cyr, who hails from Nanton, Alta., performed well in all six go rounds and took the title. Cyr was a late addition to the field of 10, which saw two of the original field withdraw due to injury.

1995 CFR Champions

Bareback: Davey Shields Jr., Hanna, Alta. ? 130 points

Calf Roping: Darren Shaw, Cardston, Alta. ? 160 points

Saddle Bronc: Denny Hay, Mayerthorpe, Alta. ? 130 points

Steer Wrestling: Todd Boggust, Paynton, Sask. ? 130 points

Ladies' Barrel Racing: Debbie Guelly, Hudson Hope, B.C. ? 180 points

Bull Riding: Wes Cry, Nanton, Alta. ? 105 points

Novice Bareback: Jay Phipps, Marshall Sask. ? 303.3 points

Novice Saddle Bronc: Jonathan Blackmore, Cardston, Alta. ? 180 points

Boys' Steer Riding: Jason Finkbeiner, Wardlow, Alta. ? 130 points

All Around Winner: Duane Daines, Innisfail, Alta.

Canadian High Point Award Winner: Darren Shaw ? 160 points