Canadian champion.
Cochrane steer wrestler Tanner Milan can add that to the list of accomplishments in what has been a career year for the 29-year-old on the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) circuit.
Milan won the steer wrestling event at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) held Nov. 7-11 in Edmonton. His five-day earnings of approximately $50,000 at the CPRA’s showcase event put his season earnings at nearly $70,000
Talk about hitting the jackpot.
“I got five buckles, a gold watch, a ring, a saddle. I got all kinds of trinkets,” he said in a telephone interview with The Eagle. “I got a truck, too.”
But the Cochrane rodeo cowboy took home far more than a truckload of neat stuff and a large cheque in his eighth-career CFR appearance.
“I don’t know if it’s even sunk in yet,” he admitted. “It was a long time coming. I’m finally the champ now and it’s so overwhelming.
“This is my eighth year now and I’ve fought so hard for it and finally capped it off.”
And he did it with devastating consistency on Lee Graves’s Calgary Stampede-winning horse, Jessie.
“It was awesome. He’s just an outstanding horse. Lee Graves is an outstanding guy and an outstanding hazer,” Milan enthused. “Just from the first time I practised on him (Jessie) at home, I just had all the confidence in the world on him. It’s just amazing.”
In six runs over the five-day CFR showcase, Milan won three runs with sub-four-second times. His other three times were 4.6 seconds or better.
“I was just very consistent and got good starts every night,” he recalled. “It was amazing. I don’t even know how to explain how confident I was.”
And, after it was over, the celebration was on.
“We damn sure took everybody out for dinner and had some drinks. The whole family was there.”
Speaking of family, Milan’s older brother Baillie was also at the CFR, earning a 2nd-place finish on the first day before winding up 10th at the end of the week. Cochrane bull riders Steven and Jody Turner competed, with Jody winding up sixth and Steven taking 12th in his 10th CFR bull riding appearance.
