Back to All News

PANKEWITZ BECOMES FIRST CANADIAN TO CLAIM TITLE AT CANADIAN CUP SERIES EVENT

02/25/2012

 ABBOTSFORD  –  With the most rides we have ever seen in the championship round at the Canadian Cup Series, it was a close race between the top 5 riders in Abbotsford.  Posting an 89 point score on Nedley Mandingo (Sawyer Bucking Bulls), Tyler Pankewitz secured the win with the highest score in the 2012 Canadian Cup Series.  He earned over $6 thousand dollars for his win.

“The cowboys of the Canadian Cup Series came to ride tonight in Abbotsford” said production manager Richard Jones. They stepped up to the challenge against a strong pen of bulls selected by livestock director Jason Davidson posting more rides in both long rounds and the short round than at any other Canadian Cup Series event this year.

Four riders posted three scores this weekend.  Following Pankewitz in the standings was Sevi Torturo who took home the win just two weeks ago in Winnipeg.  Torturo posted three scores over 80 points this weekend to end the night with 248 points and take home just under $4 thousand dollars.  Returning to the bull riding scene was Zack Brown of Hurtistown, HI.  Brown finished third in the round just one point behind Torturo and earned just over $2100.

The last rider to cover three bulls in Abbotsford was the most decorated bull rider in Canada, Scott Schiffner.  Posting an 86 point ride on Cowboy’s Choice (Girletz Rodeo Stock), Schiffner showed the crowd what he was made of.

Rounding out the top five was Australian cowboy Budd Williamson.  Posting a score of 85 in the first round, Williamson could not hang onto his match Hung Lo (Coyote Creek Rodeo) in the second round.  He was matched with Turn Me Down (Vold Rodeo) and scored 87 points to tie Zack Brown for the round.

Winning the long round in Abby was Jarrod Craig.  Production manager Richard Jones stated that his match against Bomb Diggity (Vold Rodeo) was made in bull riding heaven.  Jones also noted that the crowd in Abbotsford, was one of the most responsive crowds we have seen all year at the Canadian Cup Series.

Event highlight went to 2 time Canadian bull of the year and 2 time World finals qualifying bull VJV Slash.  Bringing Matt Triplett to the ground early in the short round, both judges scored the bull high for a combined bull score of 45.5 which is the highest bull score in Canada this year.

Post event, judges Chad Pighin and Justin Keeley were noticeably impressed with the level of competition.  “A lot of the bull riders have stepped up to take this competition to a new level” said judge Keeley.  “Kudos to the cowboys for riding the rank pen that Davidson brought this weekend” added Pighin.

The Canadian Cup Series will take a few weeks off, and return to competition in eastern Canada with an event in London, ON March 24.  Tickets for this event are still available through John Labatt Centre.  Immediately following this event will be the Montreal Invitational which will take place at the Bell Centre.  Fans can expect the competition at the Canadian Cup Series to continue

2012 Edmonton Invitational Event Standings

About Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada:
Dollars earned at Canadian events counts towards qualification to the elite PBR Canadian Cup National Finals.  Upon the conclusion of the Finals, the bull rider with the most regular season and Finals points is crowned the PBR Canadian National Champion.  Money won at all Canadian events counts toward qualifying on the prestigious PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS).  At the end of the BFTS season, the top-ranked PBR Canada rider will compete at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, NV.  For more information on PBR Canada, go to www.pbrcanada.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbr.canada and Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBRCanada