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Oct-Nov 2003 CFR is all grown upThirty years old and at its primeBy Garry Cooper
In spite of the doubts, there was enough support to get the ball rolling and the first CFR was staged in November, 1974, in the old Edmonton Gardens. "I was the creator of it," says Perry, although he was a reluctant and skeptical creator at the beginning. The Canadian professional rodeo cowboys sparked the idea in one of their meeting in 1973. "They got the idea that they'd like to have their own national finals like they had in the United States, and they asked me to get it started," recalls Perry from his retirement ranch home near Coaldale, AB, east of Lethbridge, AB. "I asked them where they wanted it, and they said Edmonton. I told them that their idea wasn't very smart because it would kill the most successful rodeo they had." Perry had been running the successful Spring Rodeo for Northlands in which both Canadian and American professional cowboys participated. Perry admitted then to "powerful reservations" that the Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Association "had enough depth" to successfully run a national finals. Eventually, the Spring Rodeo did pass by the wayside as the CFR grew stronger after it moved in 1975 into the new Northlands Coliseum. Edmonton couldn't seem to support more than one major rodeo event in a season just as the CRCA feared that Calgary couldn't support a third rodeo along with its Rodeo Royal and the world famous Calgary Stampede. That was a key consideration in deciding on Edmonton as the home for the CFR. However, the very first Canadian national finals "was considered a roaring success," says Perry. "There were 5,236 people on opening night, and that's how many seats there were available in the Gardens with the rodeo setup. We had two or three sellouts over the six performances. Everybody was really enthusiastic." The Edmonton Spring Rodeo was the first event ever staged in the new Coliseum when it opened in 1975, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo was the second major event in the $30 million facility that November. The inaugural CFR paid $29,478 in purse money. The money was steadily increased over the years, surpassing the $500,000 mark in 1998 when an attendance record (still standing) of 91,105 was set. Last year's payout was a record $651,655. The Calgary Stampede's purse totals about $520,00.
In the earlier years, purse money offered stalled at about $50,000 and there were offers from other cities to take the CFR. "Edmonton needed a wake-up call and we got Calgary in the mill," remembers Perry. "I went on record that Edmonton didn't deserve the event any more. And when it came to the vote, it was a close call." After that, however, Edmonton got behind it. Edmonton didn't want to lose another rodeo. "I think it's been tremendous; a very successful venture. The City of Edmonton has really gotten behind it. But they'll have to keep their head up if they want to keep it, because other cities sure do want it." Perry also credits Northlands for its support. "Northlands is really involved. They've taken a personal interest because, to them, it's the greatest event that ever happened. To have facilities' management support like that is very important. Northlands people look forward to the CFR every year." Born and raised in Kelowna, B.C., Len Perry left high school to make his fame and fortune in Alberta. He worked in ranching and logging as a young man and bought a ranch near Millet, AB before he married and started his own home construction business in the 1950s. His company built 1,500 homes in Edmonton. Perry became involved with cutting horses in the 1960s, and he blames the late lumberman and cutter friend Cliff Ross for "dropping" the Edmonton Spring Rodeo management job on him. He served two years as president of the non-profit volunteer Northlands exhibition association. He's on the Northlands Wall of Fame. Retiring to his 1,000-acre ranch on the Oldman River at the mouth of the Little Bow River, Perry has been inducted into both the Canadian Cutting Horse and Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Halls of Fame. He stepped down from his CFR involvement only after "the patterns (of operation) were pretty well set. A lot of little things that we introduced to the CFR became standard rodeo procedures to keep the operation running smoothly." Perry is also pleased that the CFR's early policy of paying out 50 per cent of the purse to stock contractors has borne such bountiful fruit over the years, making it a thriving industry in the west. "Stock contractors had been starving. But look at it today how the caliber of bucking stock has improved to world class because the contractors could afford do some things to improve it. "I accomplished the things that I wanted to accomplish," says Perry, and nobody's ever been able to argue about that. A brief history of the CFR How it all started Jim Freeman wins three go-rounds to take the bull riding championship title in 1974. This new record was not matched in this event until Daryl Mills came first three times in 1992. In 1975, the renamed Canadian Finals Rodeo moves into the new Northlands Coliseum and attendance goes up 75 per cent. Dave MacDonald qualifies in three events - bareback, calf roping and steer wrestling. Larry Robinson becomes the youngest CFR qualifier in a major event, when the 17-year-old cowboy joins his father, Edgar, in the calf roping event. Raylee Walter was the youngest ever when she qualified in the ladies barrel racing in 1987 at the age of nine. Jerri Duce wins five of the six go-rounds in ladies barrel racing for three consecutive years from 1975 to 1977. Her 230 point totals in 1976 and 1977 are records for all events. The original CNFR (Canadian National Finals Rodeo) came into being in 1974 following the signing of an agreement between the Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Association (CRCA) and the Edmonton Exhibition Association Ltd. The agreement provided for the co-sponsorship of the event by the CRCA and the Edmonton Exhibition Association with the CRCA being primarily responsible for the ground rules, covering the championship rodeo, the selection of stock and the pre-sale of tickets. The Edmonton Exhibition Association handled the physical production of the event, most of the advertising and management expertise. A lot of hard work went into making the first CNFR a success. Some of the highlights... Beginning in 1974, with the insight and initiative of numerous individuals, many dreams have been fulfilled and legends created as this great rodeo has evolved. The first CFR Commissioner was Len Perry, and he held this position for 20 years. He handed over the reins to Warren Holte in 1995, who passed on the responsibility to Dale Leschiutta in 1998. Countless volunteers and personnel have worked diligently in the arena and behind the scenes to keep the rodeo fans entertained. |
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It seems a little hard to believe that this is the 30th annual Canadian Finals Rodeo at Northlands Park. How time flies when you're having fun. Before it all started, even kingpins like Len Perry had their doubts. But the cowboys wanted it, and they wanted it in Edmonton.
"I think the reason for its success," says Perry, "is that the CFR was built on a strong foundation. In that first year, I'd asked Chunky Woodward to be co-chairman with me. He was a powerhouse backing me up."