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Big Valley’s Zeke Thurston scores hat trick at Calgary Stampede

First saddle bronc rider to win three in a row.
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Zeke Thurston, right, with his wife Jayne, after winning the Calgary Stampede on Sunday, July 16. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/HEATHER WEATHERLY

Big Valley’s Zeke Thurston scored a 92 point aboard Get Smart for his final ride on Showdown Sunday, July 16, getting himself a $100,000 payday, one more time.

But what was remarkable in this feat was with this performance, Thurston’s name has been firmly ensconced as the only saddle bronc rider to win three in a row at Calgary Stampede.

Earlier in the afternoon, Thurston rode Timely Delivery scoring a 90 point, qualifying for the finals.

After winning Ponoka Stampede on Get Smart towards the beginning of July, Thurston has been looking forward to Calgary; he now sits second in this year’s PRCA world standings with $88,603.56 in earnings, behind Jacobs Crawley of Texas.