Alberta cowboys Lee Graves and Rod Warren have captured championships at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Steer wrestler Graves of Black Diamond, Alta., and saddle bronc rider Warren of Big Valley, Alta., both champions at the Canadian Rodeo Finals in Edmonton in November, won the aggregate points total after 10 rounds of competition in Las Vegas.
Graves, participating there for the seventh time, also picked up the world steer wrestling title.
“To win a world title, it’s a pretty amazing thing,” he said.
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Graves said he enjoys rodeos and the chance to travel and compete against good friends.
“That’s the thing about rodeos, one night you’re cheering somebody on, the next night you’re trying to beat ’em,” he said.
“It’s a way of life with a lot of ups and downs, but the big highs make it worthwhile.”
Graves said he felt confident competing at Las Vegas, which wrapped up Dec. 11, after winning the Canadian championship for the fifth time.
The sport is 34-year-old Graves’ full-time job and he plans to continue.
“I’ll keep rodeoing until I don’t feel I’m being competitive and until I’m not craving it anymore,” said Graves, who pocketed $126,412 at the event.
Warren, who picked up $66,802, said it is one of the toughest competitions of the year for cowboys, who must be in the top 15 in world standings to qualify.
“So to come out on top, it’s a great achievement,” said Warren, who has now won the National Finals Rodeo aggregate title four times.
Warren said a cowboy must be physically and mentally prepared to ride many different types of horses.
The 37 year old plans to take time off to raise quarter horses and operate a ranch before returning to the rodeo circuit in 2006.
Other top Canadians at National Finals included saddle bronc rider Rod Hay of Wildwood, Alta., who earned $39,501, bareback rider Kyle Bowers of Brooks, Alta., with $17,079 and barrel racer Molly Powell of Pincher Creek, Alta., with $60,829.
