Zack Jongbloed turned in a 7.2 second run in the Showdown Round to win the 2026 Calgary Stampede tie-down roping title and the $50,000 that came with it on July 12.

Showdown Sunday at “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” capped a standout week for the three-time NFR qualifier from Iowa, Louisiana. Jongbloed tied for the Round 1 win in Pool C with a 7.0, won Round 2 with a 7.4 and advanced as the pool’s top money earner with $15,250. He then tied Brushton Minton with 7.5 to lead the Semifinals before laying down a 7.2 in the Showdown Round. He left Calgary with $65,250 in his pocket and newfound confidence going into the remainder of the 2026 ProRodeo season.

“Calgary is definitely a bucket-list rodeo,” Jongbloed said. “It’s a fast, electric setup. It gets your blood pumping for sure. To be able to compete against the best ropers in the world in a huge stadium overflowing with fans, it’s just a feeling like no other. And getting the win is just icing on the cake.”

Momentum From the First Round

At a rodeo decided on total money won, Jongbloed knew he needed momentum early on. He carried his early pool success straight into the nine-man Semifinals and never looked back.

“I started off splitting the first round in my pool and then winning the second round, so I kind of had some momentum leading into the nine-man, which is always helpful,” Jongbloed said. “I had confidence in my horse and confidence in myself. Confidence is the main thing that helped me get through.”

That belief matters more than most things when the setup moves as fast as Calgary’s.

“It’s very important to show up Sunday with momentum behind you, because you have confidence in yourself and confidence in your horse,” Jongbloed said. “You’re just kind of reacting. Everything happens so fast. You have to believe in yourself and just got to let your hair down and have fun.”

A Familiar Calf

The calf Jongbloed drew for the four-man Showdown Round was no stranger. It was the same calf he had roped in 7.4 in the second round of his pool for $7,000, so he backed in with a plan.

“That calf was kind of tricky to flank, so I came in with a plan,” Jongbloed said. “I just wanted to hit the barrier, slow down and get him flanked with no mistakes.”

At Calgary, he said, the whole run lives or dies at the barrier.

“My main goal was to hit the barrier,” Jongbloed said. “It kind of sets up your whole run at Calgary, because if you’re late, you’re really already beat. So I just wanted to hit the barrier and have the calf standing ready to flank and make no mistakes and just see where it all fell out.”

All Things “Gucci”

Every dollar of the over $65,000 was won on GM Augusta Drifter, “Gucci,” the sorrel mare Jongbloed leans on much of the summer.

“Nothing bothers Gucci,” Jongbloed said. “I’ve had her for quite a few years now and she’s just easy. She stays out of my way and leaves flat. She’s easy to get to the barrier on and keep cattle standing, and that’s very important over there at Calgary.”

Calf handling was a hot topic in Calgary again this year. Keeping a calf’s feet on the ground was exactly why Jongbloed put his faith in the mare.

“That’s kind of the main reason I chose to ride her,” Jongbloed said. “She’s going to give me an inside go every time and allow me to take some pull and turn the calf around pretty easily. She honestly fit that setup great.”

Waiting for His Turn

The win was Jongbloed’s first big one of the season, and it landed after a summer that had tested his patience more than his preparation.

“My summer has just kind of been average up until Calgary,” Jongbloed said. “It wasn’t because I wasn’t prepared or because I haven’t been working at it. I just feel like it hasn’t been my turn. It’s hard to stay mentally sharp when things aren’t going your way, but I just kept telling myself that you have to overcome adversity and be ready to take advantage of the situation when it’s your turn.”

Letting His Hair Down

Ask him what separated the Zack Jongbloed who won this year from the one who first backed into the box at Calgary, and the answer is a lighter grip.

“This year I was more prepared to treat each go-round as a one-header, because it’s based off total money won,” Jongbloed said. “I let my hair down a little bit this year and treated each run as a one-header.”

Now he leaves Calgary with the coveted calf roping bronze and a full tank for the big weeks ahead.

“That bronze is something I’ll never forget,” Jongbloed said.l “It’s a bucket-list victory that I’m excited to check off. This will also give me momentum leading into the rest of the season. We have a bunch of big weeks coming up and I’m looking forward to it.”