Game Notes – Kelowna

NEXT STOP, KELOWNA – This weekend, for the first time in four years, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, will buck into Kelowna, British Columbia. The PBR Okanagan Challenge, presented by T-Rex Excavating, will be held at Prospera Place on July 20 and is the second of two midweek events of the year. The tour stop is the fourth of the season, with the campaign for the elite Cup Series getting underway in Red Deer, Alberta on June 11, followed by tour stops in Brandon, Manitoba, and Regina, Saskatchewan in mid-June. The Kelowna event will begin Wednesday, July 30 at 7 p.m. PT.

RELATED: Click here for the complete Kelowna Game Notes.

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Okanagan Challenge, presented by T-Rex Excavating, will feature two rounds of bull riding. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 and Round 2 on Wednesday. Following Round 1 which will be randomly drawn, the riders will draft their bulls for Round 2. The event winner will be the rider with the top aggregate score from their two outs. This week, one rider will have the chance to earn 80 national points.

TIME TO TALK TOURING PRO DIVISION – While it may have only been a month since the most recent Cup Series event in Regina, Saskatchewan, the PBR Canada Touring Pro Division event has been in full swing, holding 10 events. Here’s a recap of how each event unfolded:

Winnipeg, MB (June 24): Just days after the Cup Series event in Regina, Brock Radford began his campaign with a bang, both winning and finishing third at the Red River Ex presents a PBR Friday Night Chute Out to then crack the Top 5 in the race for the 2022 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $50,000 bonus. Radford’s win was highlighted by his unrivaled score in the opening round. Drawing Black Jack, the newlywed reached the requisite 8 for 87 points. While Radford was bucked off in Round 2, dispatched by Sure Shot in 5 seconds, his opening-round score was enough to clinch the victory. Radford also finished third compliments of a double entry. The 27-year-old delivered his second podium finish courtesy of an 83.5-point score aboard Bobby Boucher. Radford earned a combined 38 national points, rising to a then No. 4 in Canada. In Kelowna, Radford has drawn Trapped in Round 1.

Waskesiu Lake, SK (June 30): Against the picturesque backdrop of Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan, young gun Blake Smith reached a crucial career milestone during the 8 Seconds At The Ridge Touring Pro Division event. Backed by his career-first 90-point ride, Smith won the event, propelling him back to the No. 1 position in the heated race to be crowned the 2022 PBR Canada Champion. The Austin Gamblers contender was quick to strike in Round 1 when he covered Gamebred for 84.5 points. Punching his ticket to the championship round positioned second on the event leaderboard, Smith next readied to go head-to-head with Ain’t About Fame.In perfect time with the animal athlete, Smith matched Ain’t About Fame jump-for-jump, reaching the whistle and leading the raucous crowd to erupt in cheer. Marked a monstrous 90 points, not only was the score the first 90-point ride of the season in Canada, but it was also the first of Smith’s career. Smith clinched the event win compliments of the perfect 2-for-2 showing, garnering 30 national points. Ranked No. 2 prior to the event, Smith leap-frogged Lonnie West for the top position in the heated PBR Canada Championship race, climbing 18.5 points out front of the Albertan. Blake Smith returns to the lineup in Kelowna, slated to take on a rematch in Just A Vertigo in Round 1.

Cluny, AB (July 1): Cody Coverchuk inched closer to further etching his name in the PBR record books as the 2022 PBR Canada season continued with Touring Pro Division action in Cluny, Alberta. Going a perfect 2-for-2, Coverchuk won the Cluny Lions Charity PBR, rising to No. 8 in the national standings as he attempts to become the first-ever back-to-back PBR Canada Champion. The Ariat Texas Rattlers rider was unmatched in Round 1, posting the top score when he covered Smog for 83.5 points. Coverchuk then remained atop the event leaderboard in Round 2 when he delivered the high-marked ride of the event. In perfect time with Revelation, the Saskatchewan man reached the requisite 8 for 84 points. Compliments of the perfect performance, Coverchuk collected 32 national points, climbing from No. 9 to No. 8 in the national standings. Should two-time and reigning Canadian Champion Coverchuk defend his title in November, he would become the first rider in history to win the honor in consecutive seasons. Coverchuk would also tie three-time title holder Aaron Roy for most Canadian Championships earned by one rider. Cody Coverchuk will seek his next victory in Kelowna when he climbs aboard Charlee’s Bull in Round 1 of the PBR Okanagan Challenge, presented by T-Rex Excavating.

Ponoka, AB (July 2): Competing in front of a home province crowd in Ponoka, Alberta, Logan Biever delivered a flawless 2-for-2 performance to win the Ponoka Stampede Wild West PBR. Biever was quick to convert in the opening round of competition. Drawing Spooky Lukie, Biever reached the requisite 8, earning an 85.5-point score and punching his ticket to the championship round second on the event leaderboard. In the championship round, Biever next readied to go head-to-head with Heckya.ca. Matching the powerful animal athlete jump-for-jump, Biever was marked 83 points, winning the round and clinching the event victory. Biever left the Ponoka Stampede Grounds having earned a crucial 30 national points. Solidifying his then No. 3 rank in the heated battle to be crowned the 2022 PBR Canada Champion, Biever climbed within a mere 25 points of No. 1 Blake Smith. Biever will seek his first Cup Series victory of 2022 in Kelowna, first taking on I’m To Crazy.

Calgary, AB #1 (July 5): As action got underway for the first of four Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin’ events in Calgary, Alberta, there was no rider more dominant than Dakota Louis. Compliments of a perfect 2-for-2 showing, the Austin Gamblers contender won the tour stop to surge from unranked to No. 18 in the PBR Canada national standings. In Round 1, Louis was sensational as he took on re-ride opponent Red Carpet. Reaching the requisite 8, the Montana native was scored 85.5 points, tying for the third best score of the round. Louis next went head-to-head with Slip Slap. In perfect time with his animal athlete counterpart, Louis delivered the highest marked ride of the event, scored 89 points to clinch the event win. For his golden finish, Louis earned 27.5 national points.

Calgary, AB #2 (July 6): During the second night of competition for the Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin’, three riders shared the golden finish after delivering matching aggregate scores from their perfect 2-for-2 showing at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino. Standing atop the podium was 2022 PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen, along with 2017 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year Coy Robbins and Ashton Sahli. For the Carolina Cowboys’ Swearingen, he first put points on the board in Round 1 when he covered Sugar Jack for 82.5 points. Positioned eighth on the event leaderboard entering the championship round, Swearingen next readied to go head-to-head with Phantom Fury. Swearingen was a picture of perfection atop the powerful animal athlete, matching him jump-for-jump en route to a monstrous 91-point score, the highest marked ride of the season thus far in Canada .For his victory, 2019 PBR Canada Champion Swearingen earned 19 national points, rising from No. 9 to No. 6 in the heated race to be crowned the 2022 PBR Canada Champion. Robbins and Sahli tied for the victory alongside Swearingen, each collecting 22 national points. In the opening round of competition, Robbins and Sahli delivered matching 86.5-point rides to surge to the top of the event standings. Robbins conquered Dance Monkey, while Sahli covered Hanna Motors Rhythm & Blues. Robbins and Sahli again mirrored one another in the final round, remaining No. 1 in the event when they both made the requisite 8 atop their championship round draws for 87 points. The duo rode Sellin Dreams and Warning Shot, respectively. In the PBR Canada national standings, Robbins rose from No. 13 to No. 11, while Sahli climbed from No. 20 to No.13. While Swearingen and Robbins will not ride in Kelowna, Sahli will return to competition, drawing Crank It Up for the opening round inside Prospera Place.

Calgary, AB #3 (July 7): As a raucous crowd watched on at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, home province hopeful Micheal Ostashek shined, winning the third iteration of the Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin’. Ostashek quickly gathered momentum in Round 1 when he delivered what would tie for the second-best score of the round, marked 85 points atop Twist of Fate. In the championship round, Ostashek drew Langham Kid as his final animal athlete opponent. A picture of perfection, Ostashek reached the requisite 8 for a career-best 89.5 points to clinch his first event win in more than seven years. Ostashek’s golden finish earned him a crucial 28.33 national points, propelling him from No. 16 to No. 11 in the national standings. Ostashek will look to reclaim his momentum in Kelowna when he attempt Allemand Left in Round 1.

Calgary, AB #4 (July 8): At the final iteration of the Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin’, Nick Tetz showed up and showed out in front of his hometown crowd, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the event and vault to No. 11 in the intense battle to be crowned the 2022 Canadian Champion. In the opening round of action, Tetz was dominant aboard Southern Heat. Reaching the requisite 8, the 2018 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year was scored 84.5 points, advancing to the championship round fourth on the event leaderboard. Tetz then readied to take on Slip Slap. In perfect time with the animal athlete, Tetz earned his second qualified ride of the evening, scored 87 points to clinch the victory as the crowd erupted in raucous cheer. For his efforts, Tetz collected a crucial 25 national points. He surged from No. 15 to No. 11 in the national standings.

Picture Butte, AB (July 9): In his career-first PBR event, young gun Dusty Golden showed up and showed out, both winning and finishing third at the Touring Pro Division’s Coyote Flats PBR to surge from unranked to No. 17 in the Canadian standings. Golden’s victorious effort was headlined by the highest-marked ride of the event. Despite bucking off Crying Over You  in 4.34 seconds in Round 1, Golden rebounded in winning fashion in Round 2. Matched up with Back Cracker, Golden covered the powerful animal athlete for an impressive 88.5 points to clinch the victory. Courtesy of a double entry, Golden also finished third. His second podium finish in Picture Butte, Alberta, was earned compliments of an 87-point score atop Red Rust in the second round.

Kinsella, AB (July 13): Backed by a flawless 2-for-2 showing, Nick Tetz earned his second PBR Canada Touring Pro Division event win of the season, victorious at the Kinsella Graveldome Bullarama to crack the Top 10 in Canada. In Round 1, the 2018 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year first put points of the board when he rode Rusty Rivets for 84.5 points. Tetz then faced Finning Lil Shorty in the championship round. Once again reaching the requisite 8, Tetz was scored 87.5 points to win the round and clinch the event victory. The home province hopeful garnered 27 points for the golden finish, rising from No. 11 to No. 8 in the Canadian national standings. Tetz is now within 84.33 points of No. 1 Blake Smith. Tetz will look to earn his second consecutive victory in Kelowna, first attempting OMB Stones Throw in Round 1.

BUTTAR WINS CALGARY STAMPEDE – As the 2022 Calgary Stampede wound to a climactic close, it wasn’t one, but rather two bull riders who took to the stage, crowned Bull Riding Co-Champions of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Compliments of matching 88.5-point rides, 2020 PBR Canada Champion Dakota Buttar and Shane Proctor tied for the event win at the prestigious annual rodeo. For Buttar, it was his first victory at the Calgary Stampede, while for Proctor it was his second, first claiming the title, and then $100,000 bonus, in 2011. Buttar advance to Showdown Sunday via Pool B. Earning $8,000, Buttar finished third in Pool B. Garnering $12,500, Maverick Potter won the pool, followed by Creek Young ($11,000) in second and Trey Kimzey ($7,000) in fourth. When Pool B got underway on July 12, Buttar was quick to make his presence known. Drawing Positively Banging, Buttar reached the requisite 8 for 87 points. The score was the second best of the round, worth $4,500. Buttar, however, would strike out in the next two rounds, bucked off by Rundown and Backflip. As a result, Buttar slipped outside the Top 4, putting him in a must-ride position on the final day of pool play. Matched up with Warning Shot, Buttar capitalized under pressure. Covering the animal athlete, Buttar was marked 77.5 points. And while the score was low, it positioned him third in the round, garnering him $3,500, and propelling him back inside the threshold to advance to Showdown Sunday. Buttar, along with Potter, Young and Kimzey, joined Cody Coverchuk, Jared Parsonage, Clayton Sellars and Reid Oftedahl who punched their tickets via Pool A, and Alan de Souza and Proctor who kept their hopes alive via Wildcard Saturday. When Championship Sunday got underway, Proctor was a dominant force, delivering the top score when he covered Afraid To Nod for 90 points, with Buttar close behind in second courtesy of his 85.5-point score atop Jayded. With two spots still available in the final round, Parsonage advanced via his 84.5-point effort aboard Positively Banging and Souza clinched the last position after he covered State Law for 79.5 points. The slate was then wiped clean, and each of the four riders drew one final bull – or so they thought. After Proctor, Buttar, Parsonage and Souza all bucked off their initial opponents, the lineup was reset, with each rider readying to take on another bovine athlete opponent. Proctor set an early tone for the final round of Showdown Sunday, posting an 88.5-point score on 2 Guns. Rising to the occasion, Buttar matched the marks after delivering a wild ride aboard Lil Hootch. Just days after the win, which earned him $31,250, Buttar will return to PBR Canada competition for the tour stop in Kelowna, drawing Hatrick in Round 1.

PAST KELOWNA EVENT WINNERS – When PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series debuted in Kelowna in 2018, Australian standout Lachlan Richardson went a perfect 2-for-2 to capture the event win at the inaugural Cup Series event in the British Columbia city. To begin the event, Richardson first made the 8 on Broken Trigger for 86 points to finish second in Round 1. In the championship round he brought the crowd to its feet when he rode Finning Majic Shivers for 86.5 points. In 2017, PBR Canada held its first ever event in the British Columbia city as part of the Touring Pro Division. Brock Radford won the stop, his second of a historic four consecutive event wins, as the only rider to deliver a perfect 2-for-2 performance. Radford, who double entered, also finished sixth at the event. Radford will return to the lineup this season seeking his first Cup Series victory of 2022. He has drawn Trapped in Round 1.

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Okanagan Challenge, presented by T-Rex Excavating will feature three rematched, with no rider having previously made the 8. Current Canadian No. 1 Blake Smith leads the trio, renewing his rivalry with Just A Vertigo. Smith was bested by the bull during the 2021 Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, bucked off in 2.9 seconds. Young gun Ashton Sahli will also face a familiar opponent in Crank-It-Up. The bovine athlete sent Sahli to the ground in 5.25 seconds in 2021 during the Touring Pro Division event in Czar Lake, Alberta. Dawson Shannon is the final rider anticipated to take on an opponent he has previously attempted. Matched up during the 5/5 Bucking Battle held in tandem with the 2021 Cup Series event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Lil Hooch dispatched Shannon in 2.42 seconds.

BULL PEN – This weekend’s bull pen for the PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, event in Kelowna, British Columbia, will be headlined by the two bovine athletes that propelled Shane Proctor and Dakota Buttar to the win at the 2022 Calgary Stampede. Proctor was propelled to victory by 2 Guns who posted a 43-point bull score. The out was the second for 2 Guns in his debut at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. During pool competition, 2 Guns tossed Coy Robbins in 3.72 seconds to earn a 43.5-point bull score. In Kelowna, 2 Guns will buck in Round 1, drawn by Todd Chotowetz. For Buttar, his march to victory was capped with a score aboard Lil Hooch. The standout animal athlete was scored 44 points during his debut trip at the Calgary Stampede. Inside Prospera Place, Dawson Shannon will face Lil Hooch in a rematch as the third rider to leave the chutes.

NEXT UP – The 2022 PBR Canada Sup Series, presented by Wrangler, will next travel to Lethbridge, Alberta, and ENMAX Centre on Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24. Action for the PBR South Country Co-op Showdown, presented by VisitLethbridge.com, will get underway nightly at 7:00 p.m. MDT.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Kelowna, British Columbia, are Chase Keeley, Logan Kadlec and Levi Hale.  

KELOWNA COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Canada (17) – Logan Biever, Dakota Buttar, Todd Chotowetz, Cody Coverchuk, Jake Gardner, Garrett Green, Chad Hartman, Nicholas Klinck, Zane Lambert, Mike Ostashek, Brock Radford, Aaron Roy, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Dawson Shannon, Blake Smith, Nick Tetz.

Paraguay (1) – Fabian Dueck

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Logan Biever, Garrett Green, Nicholas Klinck, Zane Lambert, Mike Ostashek, Brock Radford, Ashton Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Dawson Shannon, Nick Tetz; British Columbia – Jake Gardner; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Todd Chotowetz, Cody Coverchuk, Chad Hartman, Aaron Roy, Blake Smith.