Game Notes – London

WELCOME TO ONTARIO – This weekend, for the third consecutive season, and fifth time in tour history, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into London, Ontario. The PBR London Classic, the fourth elite tour event of the season, will be held at Canada Life Place on June 6-7. The London event will begin Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. ET.

 RELATED: Click here for the complete London Game Notes. 

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR London Classic will feature three rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 1 Challenger Series Global event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Friday and Round 2 on Saturday. Round 1 will be set by a random draw, Round 2 will be determined by draft. The 10 bull riders with the best combined scores will then advance to the championship round on Saturday, where they will attempt one final bull in an effort to be crowned the event champion. This weekend, one rider will have the chance to earn 140 national points in the main event, in addition to ride score points.

MR. MANITOBA: JAKE GARDNER – In mid-May, PBR Canada’s focus turned to Manitoba, as the Touring Pro Division stopped in Dauphin, 24 hours prior to the two-day Cup Series event in nearby Brandon. And while roughly 160 kilometers may separate the two cities, one rider was dominant in both, Jake Gardner. The consecutive wins allowed Gardner to further his grasp on the No. 1 rank in the nation as he chases his first PBR Canada Championship this November. In Dauphin, Gardner began the event with a bang, delivering the second-best score of Round 1 when he covered Night Stalker for 84.5 points. The reserved British Columbia rider’s momentum continued to roll in the championship round. Making the 8 on Patiently Waiting for an event-best 86 points, the qualified ride clinched the event victory for Gardner. Courtesy of the win, Gardner earned a crucial 56.67 national points, growing his lead over then No. 2 Cody Coverchuk to 75.17 points. The following day, Gardner’s momentum continued to flow in Brandon. Once again starting in fast form, Gardner, logged the second-best score of Round 1 of the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out when he rode Red Rust for 84 points. He then overtook the top spot on the event leaderboard courtesy of an 86-point ride in Round 2 aboard Kraken. With the first pick in the championship round bull draft, Gardner selected a familiar opponent in Patiently Waiting, the very bovine athlete who propelled Gardner to the win in Dauphin. Nodding with confidence, Gardner repeated his past success, reaching the requisite 8 for 86 points to win his first Cup Series event of the season. Gardner left the Keystone Centre at Westoba Place with 128.5 national points, growing his lead to 116 points over new No. 2 Dakota Buttar.

Since PBR’s swing through Manitoba, the Touring Pro Division has held an event in Melfort, Saskatchewan where Garnder continued to shine, finishing both fourth and fifth courtesy of a double entry. His fourth-place effort was headlined by an 83-point ride atop State Line in Round 1, while his fifth-place finish included an 82.5-point ride aboard Brimstone in the opening round. Leaving Melfort with 35 national points, Gardner grew his lead to an increased 151 points over No. 2 Buttar.

Thus far in 2025, Garnder has gone a torrid 18-for-25 on Canadian soil, covering 72% of his animal athlete opponents, the best riding percentage of any rider who has attempted more than 20 bulls in PBR Canada competition his season. Gardner also leads PBR Canada in events won with three, also victorious earlier this season on the Touring Pro Division in Brooks, Alberta. Keen to continue his momentum and put further distance between him and the No. 2 rider in the standings, Gardner has drawn Diggin Up Bones in Round 1 of the PBR London Classic.

BUTTAR GAINS GROUND – Only once in the history of PBR Canada has a rider won three national titles, and this November, Dakota Buttar is hoping to become the second. After winning the season-launch Cup Series event in Red Deer, briefly holding the No. 1 rank in Canada, Buttar registered three Top 10 finishes across five events to remain a solid presence within the nation’s Top 5. At the most recent Cup Series event in Brandon, Manitoba, Buttar delivered a perfect 3-for-3 effort to finish second, rising from No. 3 to No. 2 in Canada as he earned 111.5 national points. The two-time PBR Canada Champion was the undeniable front runner on the opening night of action, winning Round 1 with an 84.5-point ride on Smooth Sailor. On Championship Saturday, Buttar covered Desperado for 82.5 points in Round 2, before tying for the championship round win with an 88-point score on More or Less. Despite being shutout at the latest Touring Pro Division event in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Buttar will travel to London still ranked No. 2 in Canada, trailing No. 1 Jake Gardner by only 151 national points. Thus far in 2025, Buttar was gone 10-for-15 in Canada, covering 66.67% of his animal athlete opponents, leading PBR Canada in Cup Series round wins with three. Inside Canada Life Place, Buttar will attempt Kryptonite in Round 1 of the PBR London Classic.

HANSEN HITS A HEATER – Jordan Hansen has competed and excelled in nearly every top bull riding event around the world, however one title has eluded him, that of PBR Canada Champion. But, at the past two events, Hansen has gone on a heater, registering back-to-back third-place efforts to climb from No. 5 to No. 3 in the national standings. The stretch began at the Cup Series event in Brandon, Manitoba. The veteran contender made the 8 on State Line for 81 points in Round 1, User Friendly for 83.5 points in Round 2 and Whiskey Moon for 88 points in the championship round. Earning 85 national points, Hansen surged from No. 5 to No. 4 in Canada, propelled within 194 points of No. 1 Gardner. His success continued this most recent weekend in Melfort, Saskatchewan. Hansen began the event with a bang, tying for the Round 1 win via an 84-point score on Quiet Riot, but was denied the win when he was bucked off by Hammer Time in a quick 2.35 seconds in the final round. Earning 24.5 national points, Hansen rose from No. 4 to No. 3 in Canada, propelled within 204.5 points of the No. 1 rank. This weekend in London, Hansen will look to gain further ground when he attempts Whoopsie Hustle in the opening round.

KEEPING COMES NORTH – This weekend in London, Ontario, three-time PBR World Finals qualifier and member of the 2023 PBR Teams World Champion Texas Rattlers Daniel Keeping will make his Canadian debut. The affable Texan is fresh off an impressive finish where he battled through Ride For Redemption to earn one of the final five berths to the Championship inside the renowned AT&T Stadium where he went 1-for-4 to finish 14^th. Keeping will be aboard Relatively Famous when he nods his head for the first time in the Great White North.

A FAMILY AFFAIR: WELCOME THE HEVALOW BROTHERS – This weekend’s PBR Canada event in London, Ontario will be a family affair for the Hevalow brothers, as Koltin and Krash will make their way from Oklahoma to Canada for the event at Canada Life Place. The elder brother, Koltin, is an established PBR veteran. A three-time PBR World Finals qualifier, Koltin is also a member of the 2024 PBR Teams Regular-season Champion Kansas City Outlaws. Last season, Koltin made his PBR Canada debut at the Cup Series event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, going 1-for-2 to finish 11^th. While the PBR world knows the name of the elder Hevalow, for the younger, 18-year-old Krash, the PBR London Classic will mark his PBR debut. In Round 1, Krash will leave the chutes first aboard Divorce Papers, followed by Koltin on Hat Trick.

PAST LONDON EVENT WINNERS – When the Cup Series last travelled to London in June 2024, Cody Coverchuk dominated, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the event. Coverchuk got off to a fast start in Round 1, surging to an early event lead when he dominated Almost Gone for 86.5 points. With the first pick in the championship round bull draft, Coverchuk architected a rematch, quickly selecting Langham Kid. The two had danced seven times prior, with Coverchuk making the requisite 8 in four of those showdowns. As the last man to leave the chutes inside Canada Life Place, Coverchuk nodded with confidence. Remaining in perfect time with the quick moving bovine, Coverchuk made the whistle, awarded an event-winning 87.5 points. Courtesy of the victory on Canada’s premier bull riding tour, Coverchuk garnered a crucial 126 national points. He furthered his then stronghold on the No. 1 rank in the nation, growing his lead from 219.5 points to 345.5 points over then No. 2 Jake Gardner. Fast forward to present and Coverchuk will travel to London this June ranked No. 4 in the national standings. Keen to defend his title, Coverchuk has drawn Great White in Round 1.

2024 Cody Coverchuk
2023 Daylon Swearingen
2019 Daylon Swearingen
2016 Reese Cates  

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR London Classic will feature one rematch. The rider facing the familiar opponent is:

• Lonnie West will attempt Waiting On Hank for the second time in his career. The two first met this past April at the PBR Canada Touring Pro Division event in Marwayne when West was bucked off by the powerful animal athlete in a close 7.34 seconds.

NEXT UP – The PBR Canada Cup Series will next travel to Ottawa, Ontario, and the Canadian Tire Centre for the PBR Ottawa Classic on Saturday, June 14. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. ET.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in London, Ontario, are Jesse Byrne, Tanner Byrne and Logan Kadlec.

 

LONDON COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Australia (1) – Cody Fraser

Brazil (3) – Franciso Costa, Ednelson Martins, Rafael Parra

Canada (17) – Liam Bishop, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Jake Gardner, Jordan Giguere, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Jared Parsonage, Micheal Ostashek, Austin Paley, Coy Robbins, Ashton Sahli, Dawson Shannon, Bret Timmermans, Justin Van de Kemp, Lonnie West

United States (4) – Nick Garramone, Koltin Hevalow, Krash Hevalow, Daniel Keeping

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Liam Bishop, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Micheal Ostashek, Austin Paley, Coy Robbins, Ashton Sahli, Dawson Shannon, Lonnie West;  British Columbia – Jake Gardner; Ontario – Justin Van de Kemp, Bret Timmermans; Quebec – Jordan Giguere; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Jared Parsonage.