The stage was set, but the result wasn’t the one Tanner Milan was looking for.
The Cochrane steer wrestler wrapped up his Calgary Stampede on Sunday finishing in ninth position and out of the running for the $100,000 grand prize.
The result completes a 10-day extravaganza of ups and downs that has confounded the 32-year-old Milan and his hazer and older brother, Baillie.
On day one of the competition, he scored a no time. The second day, he rebounded and finished fourth, pocketing $2,500, before recording another no time on day three.
Day four turned out to be his best day of the rodeo, as he slammed his steer down in a searing 3.8 seconds, nabbing second place for the day, bringing his earnings for the week to $7,000.
That answer to his critics ensured he finished tied for third in Pool A and stayed at fourth in the winnings, giving him an automatic bye to the finals.
In the finals, however, things took a turn for the worse as Milan’s steer reared its head at the last second causing the cowboy some trouble as he recorded a 14.3 second time on a day where the conditions were wet and extremely muddy, putting his dream of reaching the final four out of reach.
“I had a good steer,” the bulldogger said afterwards. “(B.C. cowboy) Clayton Moore won the wild card on him on Saturday.
“I was happy with him, I just don’t know what went on. I had a really good start and caught up with him. Winning the Calgary Stampede is something I’ve always wanted to do but it didn’t work out.
“It was just a bad day I guess.”
Five years ago, his younger brother and fellow bulldogger Straws walked away a Stampede champion, but once again the ultimate prize has eluded Milan even though he’s made more appearances at the competition than either of his brothers.
Still, Milan is already moving on to other things. He currently sits 15th in the Wrangler Pro Rodeo standings with 130 points, fifth in the Alberta Circuit standings, seventh in the Pro Rodeo Canada Series, 22nd in the United States with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and is looking to add to his earnings.
He was heading down to Idaho on Monday to a competition in Nampa before coming back home the next day and heading to Bonnyville, Alta, and Maple Creek, Sask.
“I sure hope to have some luck,” the two-time Canadian Finals Rodeo champion said of the events. “I’m going to have my good horses down south and just mount oats up here for the other ones.
“There are a lot of big rodeos coming up.”
Even after having three knee surgeries, the intensity, physical demand, and hectic schedule haven’t fazed Milan nor kept him from pursuing his life-long passion, nor will they any time soon.
“I can’t get enough of rodeo,” he said. “It’s awesome, I’m going to keep doing it for as long as a I can.”
