Daily Archives: August 27, 2009

A half-century of Canadian consistency in professional rodeo is in danger of collapsing.

With a month left in the season, there are no Canadian cowboys on the 15-man leaderboard in the world saddle bronc riding standings.

If that remains the case, it will mark the first time Canada hasn’t been represented in the event at the year-end National Finals Rodeo since it was created in 1959.

“We’ve talked about it,” said two-time Canadian champion Dustin Flundra. “It has come up more than once.”

The 28-year-old Pincher Creek bronc rider, trying to crack the NFR lineup for the first time in his eight-year career on the world stage, is Canada’s best hope at this time.

He’s 18^th in the world rankings with $41,000 in earnings, a tad more than $9,000 out of the last qualifying hole. But, his task is much more formidable than that.

It took more than $61,000 to survive the 15-man cut last year and it might take as much again this year.

Flundra is well aware of what he’s up against.

“We’re entered in everything for the next month,” he said, referring as well to his veteran traveling partner Rod Hay.  (read more)