We love crunching numbers, so now that the official list of competitors for the 2019 Canadian Finals Rodeo is in we wanted to know just how much of a fight we’re about to see between the competitors in each of the events.

We started with the roughstock competitors (see that analysis HERE), and now we’re moving to the timed events which are some of the tightest races heading into the CFR this year.

Watch the 2019 Canadian Finals Rodeo in Red Deer, Alberta LIVE on FloRodeo October 29 to November 3. Click HERE to sign up. 

We’ll start by filling you in on the whopping payout at this year’s CFR:

With those huge payout numbers in mind, some competitors may only be one small round placing away from the lead, while others have their work cut out for them if they want to walk away with Canadian titles in 2019. When looking at the spread between first and twelfth in all events one thing is certain, everyone has a chance to do it and no one is safe.

 Check out our lists below to see how far behind the lead each of the 2-12 competitors are, and what that difference equates to when you look at the round placings each night. (For sake of simplicity, we’ve only translated the dollar amounts into round placings, instead of including the aggregate breakdowns). 

Tie-Down Ropers: The Tightest Race From Top To Bottom Of All Events

Tie-down roping season leader Morgan Grant is going into the 2019 Canadian Finals Rodeo with $23,521.50, but even the No. 12 man–Shane Smith with $14,453.67–could only be one round away from catching him. Grant – the three-time Canadian High Point champion – decided to focus on just one event this year and it seems to have paid off with his No. 1 seat heading into the “Grey Cup” rodeo of Canada. 

 Grant made runs like this all year – including picking up checks consistently on the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association’s Finning Pro Tour (watch the entire tour HERE). 

Grant certainly won’t give up his lead without a fight, but the tie-down roping is the absolute-tightest race going into the CFR with just over $9,000 separating the whole pack, which is less than what ONE ROUND pays (1st place in a round pays $10,530). So what does that mean for the tie-down ropers? 

It’s anyone’s game.

Steer Wrestling: Thomas, Brunner And The Cassidy’s On Guenthner’s Tail For Night One

 The reigning Canadian champion steer wrestler has a chance to go back-to-back, but there are four other guys that are on his tail right off the start. Scott Guenthner had another electric season in the CPRA with three Finning Pro Tour wins, including this one at the Grande Prairie Stompede (watch the replays HERE). 

Those wins culminated in a Finning Pro Tour win for Guenthner – watch him compete all season on the tour HERE.

With only $14,501.37 between No. 1 and No. 12, it’s still anyone’s game – but the top five are all within one paycheck away from the lead on night one. 

Team Ropers: 23 Ropers Could Lead After Night One

Much like the tie-down roping, the team roping is wide open right from night one. With a $9,163.49 spread between the top and bottom on the heading side, every single competitor has a chance to overtake the lead on the very first night of competition.

On the other end, the heeling side has a slightly wider spread with $10,794.75 separating the No. 1 man from No. 12, but that means there are still 11 heelers that can take over the lead in just one round.  

The team they’re ALL chasing? The Graham boys.

Dawson and Dillon Graham are making their first appearance at the CFR – something they realized had become a reality when they won the 2019 Strathmore Stampede in August. Watch full replays of Strathmore HERE. 

Barrel Racers: Most Ground To Cover Of All Timed Events

 The barrel racing looks a lot more like the roughstock events in that it is the only event on the timed event side of the arena that has more than $15,000 separating the No. 1 competitor, from the No. 12. Justine Elliott leads the ladies with $38,421.17 in earnings while No. 12, Shelby Spielman, comes in just over $24 thousand behind with $14,276.63 in earnings.

Elliott earned the bulk of that lead on the 2019 Finning Pro Tour – watch full replays of the entire tour, including her win at the Wainwright Stampede and the Tour Final HERE.

Because of that lead, only one competitor can catch her on the first night of competition, but that competitor happens to be the world champion barrel racer, Mary Walker. From round two on the field starts to become larger, but they’re the two to watch in round one.

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