Canadian Saddle Bronc Rider Moves Into Tie for First at San Angelo Rodeo

SAN ANGELO, TX – Any cowboy that has ever played the game inside CRC Roofers Coliseum understands the energy and excitement that exudes from the building.

For some, it’s a bit intimidating. The fans are packed on top of the action, and they’re loud and exuberant. But for others, it’s a memory they will carry with them for a lifetime. Winning a championship at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is difficult, but those that do cherish the honor.

Dawson Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, has already staked his claim in Tom Green County. He won the saddle bronc riding title in 2023, the year he won both go-rounds and earned 40% of bronc bustin’ purse. He’s in position to add to his trophy case after riding Penthouse Rodeo’s Bobs Alibi for 85.5 points during Thursday’s fifth performance of San Angelo’s rodeo.

That pushed him into a tie for first in the opening round with South Dakotan Thayne Elshere and fellow Albertan Ben Anderson, who competed last weekend. Hay is in a great position to return to town a week from Friday for the championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants from the 10 preliminary performances.

That’s where the champions will be crowned and will be handed the lion’s share of the money. The 26-year-old hand knows what it means to collect that kind of cash in San Angelo. Two Aprils ago, he cleared just shy of $16,000. That bounty can do a lot for a cowboy who hopes build a world championship resume.

Hay is a second-generation bronc buster, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Rod, a 20-time NFR qualifier. Dawson Hay is the most accomplished of Rod Hay’s kids, having qualified for the finale five times in the last six years. Dawson’s older brother, Logan, is a two-time qualifier, and their younger brother, Devon, is a rising Canadian star.

Dawson Hay is third in the 2025 world standings with nearly $78,000 in earnings, so any earnings he can get over the next two weeks will come in handy.

He finished the 2024 world standings with more than $300,000 in earnings, with more than half coming over that magical 10-day stretch during the NFR in December. He finished seventh on the money list.

Over the course of his young career, Dawson Hay continues to prove that there’s talent seeping through his blood. Part of it involves genetics, but the rest falls on his desire to win. He’s comfortable doing it in San Angelo.

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo

April 4-18

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. Jess Pope, 87; 5. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 6. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 7. Kade Sonnier, 84; 8. (tie) Orin Larsen, Leighton Berry and Bradlee Miller, 83.5; 11. Colton Clemens, 82.5; 12. Will Lowe, 81.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.2 seconds; 2. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 3. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 4. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 5. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 7. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3 seconds; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 7. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 8. (tie) Landris White and Will Lummus, 3.9.Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 3. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 4. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 5. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 6. Will Lummus, 7.9; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 10. Cody Devers, 8.4; 11. Landris White, 8.5; 12. Emmett Edler, 8.7.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 3. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0; 7. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.8 seconds; 2, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 3.9; 5. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 4.0; 6. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 4.1; 7. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3. 

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Thayne Elshere, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Squash Blossom Steely Dan, Ben Anderson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Northern Exposure, and Dawson Hay, on Penthouse Rodeo’s Bobs Alibi, 85.5 points; 4. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 5. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 6. (tie) Cooper Thatcher and Lefty Holman, 82; 8. Tejay Angland, 81.5; 9. Shorty Garrett, 81; 10. (tie) Tanner Butner and Isaac Diaz, 80.5; 12. Ira Dickinson, 80; 12. Tegan Smith, 79.5.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons, Tyson Durfey and San Angelo, 7.7; 5. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 6. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 8. Treg Schaack, 8.5. Second round leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5; 3. Colton Suther, 7.6; 4. Tate Teague, 8.0; 5. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 6. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter and Colton Green, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. (tie) Andrew Burks and Roy Lee, 18.1; 6. Trent McDonald, 18.2; 7. Daxton Hill, 18.3; 8. (tie) Riley Webb and Sam Lewis, 18.9; 10. Dean Holyan, 19.3; 11. (tie) Roan Hudson and Tyson Durfey, 19.9. 

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shai Schaefer, Jordi Edens, Bailey Bates, Kelsie Domer and Jenna Dallyn, 1.9 seconds; 6. Jill Tanner, 2.0; 7. Abby Cox, 2.1; 8. (tie) Shalee King, Ellie Meeks, Kristy Stewart, KC-Gail Churchill and Madalyn Richards, 2.3. Second round leaders: 1, Summer Williams, 1.7; 2. Kieley Walz, 1.8; 3. (tie) Megan Powel, Rylee George and Bailey Bates, 1.9; 5. (tie) Carlee Potter and Aspen Miller, 2.0; 7. (tie) Shalee King and Jenna Dallyn, 2.1; 9. (tie) Bethanie Harkey, Jordi Edens and Simone Park, 2.2. Average leaders: 1. Bailey Bates, 3.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Jenna Dallyn, 4.0; 3. Jordi Edens, 4.1; 4. Shalee King, 4.4; 5. Kristy Stewart, 4.8; 6. Sawyer Gilbert, 4.9; 7. Ellie Meeks, 5.1; 8. (tie) Emilee Charlesworth, Cheyenne Britain and Shai Schaefer, 5.4; 11. Haley Sage, 5.5; 12. (tie) Macy Auclair and Libby Winchell, 5.6.  

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Jordan Driver, 14.04 seconds; 2. Heather Crowley, 14.23; 3. Fallon Taylor, 14.24; 4. Billie Harmon, 14.29; 5. Lindsey Muggli, 14.31; 6. (tie) Julie Plourde and Zoe Corkill, 14.32; 8. LaTricia Duke, 14.34; 9. Taylor Carver, 14.35; 10. Krystal Dillman, 14.36. Average leaders: 1. Jordan Driver, 30.04 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Julie Plourde and Krystal Dillman, 30.31; 4. Lindsey Muggli, 30.33; 5. Billie Harmon, 30.39; 6. LaTricia Duke, 30.44; 7. Heather Crowley, 30.47; 8. Taylor Carver, 30.55; 9. Stephanie Fryar, 30.57; 10. Hadley Tidwell, 30.59; 11. Zoe Corkill, 30.67; 12. Emma Charleston, 30.69.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Dustin Boquet, 87 points on Hampton Rodeo’s Kicking the Lights; 2. Elijah Mora, 85.5; 3. Bryce Jensen, 85; 4. (tie) Jessi Petri and Maverick Smith, 84.5; 6. Sam Southern, 82; 7. Lane Vaughan, 67; no other qualified rides.