The last time Shane Schwenke roped in Canada, he and partner Mike Beers set a world record.

Preparing to compete up north again this week, what does Schwenke do for an encore?

"Oh, gosh, that's a hard question,'' Schwenke said with a good laugh.

Schwenke and Beers wouldn't mind another world record, but a string of six quick team roping runs would suit them just fine.

Schwenke, of Zortman, Mont., and Beers, of Post, Ore., lead the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association team roping standings heading into the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton.

The six-round event begins today.

"The race is so close, it's up for grabs," said Schwenke, making his third consecutive appearance at the CFR. "The average pays the same as a go-round, so you can't play it safe. You have to go for it every night. The rodeo is set up to be real fast. Whoever places in the most rounds will win.''

Schwenke, roping with Cole Bigbee of Stephenville, Texas, finished third last year in the final CPRA standings.

Schwenke and Beers won at Strathmore, Alberta, for almost $6,000 during the summer and won the Wrangler Tour Event to put themselves atop the team roping standings. In the final round, they posted the 3.4-second run.

"When we faced each other, I knew it was fast,'' Schwenke remembered. "We couldn't see the scoreboard, it was above us. I asked Bob and he said, 'That was fast.' Then we heard the announcer and the crowd.

"I don't know if we can go any faster.''

Since it was not a PRCA-sanctioned event, it was not recognized in the PRCA record books, The PRCA record is 3.5 seconds, shared by a group of team roping teams, including Clay Tryan (with Patrick Smith, 2005 NFR) and Travis Tryan (with Cory Petska, 2008, NFR).

"It's a just a great rodeo up there, very comparable to the National Finals Rodeo'' said Schwenke, a four-time NFR qualifier. "The atmosphere is electric. Anybody who likes rodeo needs to put the Canadian Finals Rodeo on their schedule as a must-see event.''

WYO UP NORTH

Wyoming has two riders competing at the Canadian Finals Rodeo: Kelly Timberman of Mills bareback riding and Chet Johnson of Gillette in saddle bronc riding.