Breakaway roping, steer wrestling among rodeo titles won by Albertans at Stampede

Shelby Boisjoli-Meged will go down in the history books as the inaugural winner of the breakaway roping competition at the Calgary Stampede rodeo.

Boisjoli-Meged was one of three Albertans who won championship titles on Showdown Sunday.

"It's been a crazy 24 hours," said Boisjoli-Meged, who won in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday. "I've been extremely blessed. It's unbelievable. Last night I won the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust [Rodeo] and then coming here today and winning the Calgary Stampede, this is the biggest week I've ever had in my life."

As the first breakaway roper out of the gates in the final round, Boisjoli-Meged set the standard of 2.2 seconds that Texans Hali Williams (12.2) and Bradi Good (12.5) weren't able to beat as they were both penalized 10 seconds for breaking the starting barrier.

"Having my family all here watching me, it's the best feeling in the world," said Boisjoli-Meged, whose husband Haven Meged of Miles City, Mont., won the tie-down roping title in Calgary last year. "He wasn't able to compete this year due to an injury, so it kind of sucked not having him [compete] here, but getting the win and having him here in the box with me was awesome."

Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston of Big Valley and steer wrestler Scott Guenthner of Provost also finished first in their events to take home the winner's share of $50,000.

Thurston added his fourth Stampede title to the three others he won consecutively from 2015 to 2017. He scored 92.5 points atop Virgil in the final round to beat fellow Albertan Dawson Hay of Wildwood for the top prize.

"My hat's off to that horse," Thurston said. "That's a once in a lifetime kind of animal and to be able to get on him a couple of times like I have is