ESTES PARK, Colo. – Chance Barrass knows to keep his visa handy.
A saddle bronc rider from Yellowhead County, Alberta, he’s crossed the border a few times already this year, and he’s not done. A few days ago, he was competing in Ponoka, Alberta. A day or so later, he was in Oregon, all chasing his rodeo dreams. On Friday night, he rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rocket Sox for 76 points to take the bronc riding lead at Rooftop Rodeo.
“I try to go to as many rodeos down here as I can,” said Barrass, a 2021 Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier. “We’re pretty busy in Canada, but during the Fourth (of July Run) and in the winter, I try to spend quite a bit of time down here.”
He’s trying to take advantage of any situation he can, because money is the name of the game. Cowboys first pay to play the game, issuing out entry fees, and they only earn money when the beat most of the field. That cash not only helps cover expenses and pay bills, but dollars equal championship points. Only the top 15 on the money list at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the National Finals Rodeo.
For now, though, the third-year pro is hoping to secure enough earnings to finish among high enough in the world standings so he can qualify for some of the bigger, indoor events that take place January-April. Because he wasn’t able to compete in Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth or Denver, he’s behind the eight-ball rolling into the summer months.
“I’d like to try to get into the top 40 in the world so I’m able to get into some of the bigger rodeos next winter when the new year comes,” Barrass said. “Of course, I’d also like to make the Canadian finals this year, too.”
Injuries have sidelined the cowboy from western Alberta, but he’s feeling healthy and ready make a run at his goals for the year. At Alberta rodeos like Ponoka, Benalto, Calgary and Airdrie not only count toward the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association standings, they also add up for the PRCA, the premier rodeo sanctioning body whose earnings count toward bids to the NFR.
“Yeah, it’s pretty hard to figure a schedule out,” he said. “We had a little bit of time off this week, so we decided to enter a little run. We came back here from Eugene and Molalla (Oregon) last night.
“We’re leaving right after this back to Alberta for Benalto next Wednesday, then we’ll come back down to the States again after that.”
That’s what it takes for a cowboy to chase his dreams.
Rooftop Rodeo
July 5-10
Bareback riding leaders: 1. Owen Brouillette, 77 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Billy Shakespeare; 2. Grant Worthington, 69; no other qualified rides.
Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Cole Trainor, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jacob Wang, 9.7; 3. Jace Mayfield, 10.2; no other qualified runs.
Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Coy Brittain/Michael Fortenberry, 5.1 seconds; 2. Tanner Pallesen/Jade Espenscheid, 5.2; 3. Wyatt Murray/Rhett Nebeker, 5.6; 4. Brodi Jones/Arye Espenscheid, 8.1; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Chance Barrass, 76 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rocket Sox; 2. Sam Martin, 75; 3. Ean Price, 74.5; 4. Jake Schlattmann, 74; 5. Chris Williams, 72.5; 6. Sam Weston, 70.
Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kyle Dickens, 9.6 seconds; 2. Connor Matheson, 9.7; 3. Tate Teague, 10.5; 4. Rhett Nebeker, 11.8; no other qualified runs.
Barrel racing leaders: 1. Sage Kohr, 16.60 seconds; 2. Kelsey Lensegrav, 16.73; 3. Heidi Tillard, 16.78; 4. Sierra Schlenker, 16.84; 5. Jayda Jameson, 17.10; 6. Maggie Poloncic, 17.11.
Bull riding leaders: No qualified rides.