PRCA: Canadian money no good in '06
By JOE KUSEK
Of The Gazette Staff
A couple of weeks ago, Shane Schwenke of Harlem and Jhett Johnson, of Casper, Wyo., pocketed more than $11,000 by winning the team roping at a rodeo in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada.
The money won helped the two vault snugly into the top 15 of the PRCA world standings. The top 15 at the end of the regular season qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
In fact, Schwenke and Johnson have won more than a third of their 2005 money in Canada.
Next year, the money won in Canada can still be spent, but won't count in the PRCA world standings.
In a decision that will have an definite impact on competitors from Montana, the PRCA announced that it is terminating the long-time sanctioning agreement with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
Starting in 2006, money won at CPRA rodeos will not count for the PRCA.
PRCA commissioner Troy Ellerman informed CPRA officials of the decision on Tuesday.
"It will definitely change things,'' said Schwenke, a two-time qualifier for the NFR. "If the money doesn't count, you just wouldn't go.''
According to a press release, under the terms of the existing agreement, the PRCA was not receiving any financial compensation from CPRA events. Every PRCA rodeo held in the United States pays the PRCA five percent of each event's total prize money in return for being an officially sanctioned PRCA rodeo and with all the support from PRCA headquarters that goes with that privilege.
Canadian rodeos have never paid that sanctioning fee.
In addition, according to the PRCA, Canadian rodeos do not comply with PRCA sponsorship mandates and policies or require their rodeo officials to attend and graduate from the PRCA Pro Officials training program, which is required of all PRCA officials in the United States.
"As the national sanctioning body for the sport of professional rodeo, and to further our goal of operating as a business, it makes sense to require any affiliated organizations to pay our standard sanctioning fee, to standardize the training requirements for their officials and to honor and support the national sponsors who promote rodeo and are helping us take this sport to the next level,'' said Ellerman.
"The current agreement compromises all of our goals and undermines the specific goal of consistently branding ProRodeo as the ultimate professional rodeo organization in the world.''
Canadian rodeos can be PRCA-sanctioned on an individual basis in 2006, providing they comply with all approval requirements. A revised agreement between the PRCA and CPRA is a possibility, but no agreement has been reached at this time. Many Canadian rodeos have significantly increased their overall prize money during the last half-decade.
Schwenke thinks the decision could help team roping in the long run if CPRA events want to become sanctioned by the PRCA. It's only been in recent years that rodeos in Canada have added team roping as an event.
The Calgary Stampede still does not include team roping.
"It could help my event if they made team roping mandatory like they do in the U.S.,'' said Schwenke. "Hopefully, they will work things out. You hope that the PRCA and CPRA stay involved with each other and get on the same page.''
By JOE KUSEK
Of The Gazette Staff
A couple of weeks ago, Shane Schwenke of Harlem and Jhett Johnson, of Casper, Wyo., pocketed more than $11,000 by winning the team roping at a rodeo in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada.
The money won helped the two vault snugly into the top 15 of the PRCA world standings. The top 15 at the end of the regular season qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
In fact, Schwenke and Johnson have won more than a third of their 2005 money in Canada.
Next year, the money won in Canada can still be spent, but won't count in the PRCA world standings.
In a decision that will have an definite impact on competitors from Montana, the PRCA announced that it is terminating the long-time sanctioning agreement with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.
Starting in 2006, money won at CPRA rodeos will not count for the PRCA.
PRCA commissioner Troy Ellerman informed CPRA officials of the decision on Tuesday.
"It will definitely change things,'' said Schwenke, a two-time qualifier for the NFR. "If the money doesn't count, you just wouldn't go.''
According to a press release, under the terms of the existing agreement, the PRCA was not receiving any financial compensation from CPRA events. Every PRCA rodeo held in the United States pays the PRCA five percent of each event's total prize money in return for being an officially sanctioned PRCA rodeo and with all the support from PRCA headquarters that goes with that privilege.
Canadian rodeos have never paid that sanctioning fee.
In addition, according to the PRCA, Canadian rodeos do not comply with PRCA sponsorship mandates and policies or require their rodeo officials to attend and graduate from the PRCA Pro Officials training program, which is required of all PRCA officials in the United States.
"As the national sanctioning body for the sport of professional rodeo, and to further our goal of operating as a business, it makes sense to require any affiliated organizations to pay our standard sanctioning fee, to standardize the training requirements for their officials and to honor and support the national sponsors who promote rodeo and are helping us take this sport to the next level,'' said Ellerman.
"The current agreement compromises all of our goals and undermines the specific goal of consistently branding ProRodeo as the ultimate professional rodeo organization in the world.''
Canadian rodeos can be PRCA-sanctioned on an individual basis in 2006, providing they comply with all approval requirements. A revised agreement between the PRCA and CPRA is a possibility, but no agreement has been reached at this time. Many Canadian rodeos have significantly increased their overall prize money during the last half-decade.
Schwenke thinks the decision could help team roping in the long run if CPRA events want to become sanctioned by the PRCA. It's only been in recent years that rodeos in Canada have added team roping as an event.
The Calgary Stampede still does not include team roping.
"It could help my event if they made team roping mandatory like they do in the U.S.,'' said Schwenke. "Hopefully, they will work things out. You hope that the PRCA and CPRA stay involved with each other and get on the same page.''