An Innisfail cowboy bucked his way to a saddlebronc win at the Ponoka Stampede on July 2.
Denver Daines won the showdown after making it to fourth in the standings.
“I came up on top,” Daines said. He wasn't sure exactly how much money he won in Ponoka, but estimated it's between $7,000 and $10,000.
“This is the biggest thing I've ever won,” Daines said. In the showdown he rode Lynx Mountain to his 84-point victory. In the same weekend, Daines split the last hole at the Airdrie Pro Rodeo.
The day after his win in Ponoka, the cowboy was back behind the microphone recording a new song. His new single Tennessee Night is due out in a couple of weeks.
“I had to be at the studio at 9 a.m.,” Daines said. “I definitely would have loved to just slept.”
In Ponoka, Daines rode three times on July 2 and once on June 29. He got four rides because one of his ended in him getting a re-ride.
The victory dramatically changes his rodeo plans for the summer after getting a cheque out of one of the richest rodeo events in Canada.
“This is going to jump me to probably fourth or fifth in Canada,” Daines said of his Canadian Professional Rodeo Association standings.
Now Daines is setting his sights on trying to make it to the Canadian Finals Rodeo – if he can find the time to hit the right number of rodeos while managing his music schedule.
“I'm going to try and rodeo where I can and when I can, but I can't back out on the gigs,” Daines said. “If I don't make the CFR then I guess I don't make it.”
Daines said he has to hit 15 rodeos to qualify for the CFR and has already been to seven.
He hasn't been back to the finals since his rookie year in 2003. Daines said he was “super shocked” at his result in Ponoka.
“I had a good ride the first day,” Daines said. “Things just started clicking.”
Last year's rodeo season was a near writeoff for Daines after an injury took him out.
“I dislocated my shoulder really bad in High River,” Daines said, though he said the shoulder “feels pretty good” now.
“It's been crazy,” Daines said of his hectic rodeo and music schedules. Daines is lined up to play gigs during the Calgary Stampede and at the upcoming Music Rocks Festival in Didsbury. He's also scheduled to take the stage during the Texas Connection Music Festival that's taking place at the Daines Rodeo Ranch Aug. 17-18.
