Rocky Mountain House’s Ben Andersen was on his game as he collected a pair of wins over the June 5-7 weekend.

The first came at the Massey Ferguson Pro Tour’s Lea Park Rodeo near Vermilion, where he combined with the Calgary Stampede bronc F-53 Flying Carma for 87 points and $3,023.04.

Andersen then capped off the weekend with a Sunday afternoon win at his hometown Rocky Pro Rodeo, riding the Big O bucker 905 Black Elvis for 85 points and $1,760.81.

“It doesn’t get better than this,” Andersen grinned after his ride in Rocky Mountain House. “My hometown rodeo, my family’s here cheering me on and a real good horse from Orrin Wade and Big O Rodeo — this is pretty cool.”

“I’m really happy with the way the season has gone so far and I just want to keep it going,” the four-time NFR qualifier added.

The 26-year-old also had some fun at the expense of longtime rodeo clown Dennis Halstead, known for his wife and mother-in-law jokes.

“I love married life (with Grace). It’s way better than Dennis makes it out to be,” Andersen chuckled.

With $4,783 in earnings on the weekend, the five-time CFR qualifier is expected to move from 10th in the Canadian standings into a solid top-five position, while also moving into the top-15 conversation south of the border as he vies for a return trip to Las Vegas.

Other standout performances over June 5-7

Leader, Sask., bull rider Grady Young overcame challenging weather conditions and several tons of bovine bad attitude en route to three wins in four events on the busiest weekend of the CPRA season to date.

Young’s biggest payday came at Lea Park, where he rode Macza Rodeo’s 199 Counting Sheep to 86 points for $3,000.48. The 20-year-old followed that up with wins at the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo, scoring another 86 points aboard Yule Rodeo’s 273 Chase the Good for $1,720.11, and at the Newell Pro Rodeo in Brooks, where he mastered Big Stone Rodeo’s J34 Key Lix Emerson for 87 points and $1,373.90.

The three first-place finishes and $6,094.49 in earnings are expected to move the two-time CFR qualifier to or near the top of the Canadian bull riding standings. The strong weekend should also push him into the top 35 of the PRCA standings as he chases an NFR berth.

The second-generation cowboy had a shot at a rare four-event sweep but came up short at the Rocky Pro Rodeo, his final stop in a dizzying schedule that had cowboys and cowgirls criss-crossing Alberta in an effort to compete at all four CPRA events.

Other notable results from the weekend included team ropers Kash Bonnett and Logan Cullen, who posted a dramatic 4.6-second run in the Rocky mud for the win. They also placed at the other three rodeos, earning $7,617.76 and moving into top spot in the Canadian standings with more than $24,000 won.

Bemidji, Minn., barrel racer Austyn Tobey picked up the lucrative win at Lea Park, where her 16.37-second run earned $5,160.60. She also placed at the other three Canadian stops for a total of $7,048.59.

Next up on the CPRA schedule are the Gunners Bronc Battle in Gleichen on June 10, the Stavely Pro Rodeo and Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo in Innisfail from June 11-13, and the Wildwood Bronc Bustin on June 13.

— By Canadian Professional Rodeo Association