HAT TRICK HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND RODEOS
August 6 , 2009

Scott Schiffner has come a long way since he had surgery on his hip last December.

Sidelined for nearly five months, Schiffner returned to the chutes in May at the Stavely Pro Rodeo.

He debuted at 28th place in the Canadian bull riding standings after placing eighth in Stavely, and while he consistently placed, the former Canadian champion failed to break into the top 10. In fact, just two weeks ago, he was 27th in the standings

It just goes to show that the season ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

A hat trick of wins worth a total of $8,729 launched the Strathmore, Alta. cowboy into sixth place in the standings.

He placed first on Big Stone Rodeo’s Slip Knot with an 85.0-point ride in Abbotsford, B.C., worth $1,941, and another $1,151 at the North Peace Stampede in Grimshaw, Alta. with another first place ride of 83.5, this time on Kesler Rodeo’s Ghost Buster. But it was in his hometown of Strathmore, Alta. where he secured his top-10 spot in the standings, riding Outlawbuckers’ Honky to 87.0 points, worth $5,505.

The Wrangler Canadian Professional Rodeo Tour stop at Strathmore was also memorable for saddle bronc rider Sam Kelts. He scored 90 points on Harvey Northcott’s Get Smart, sliding him into the number two spot in the standings. The high score not only marks the highest saddle bronc score in the 2009 rodeo season, but is also a personal best for the Millarville, Alta. cowboy.

Steer wrestler Tanner Milan also made some serious moves over the weekend, placing first in Grimshaw and in Strathmore. Combined earnings of $7,201 rocket the Cochrane, Alta. cowboy to first in the Canadian steer wrestling standings, nudging out Cody Cassidy of Donalda, Alta., who had been leading the bulldogging pack since the beginning of July.