Game Notes – Grande Prairie

BACK TO BUCKING IN GRANDE PRAIRIE – This weekend, for the fifth time in history, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into Grande Prairie, Alberta. The PBR Peace Country Invitational, the seventh elite tour event of the season, will be held at Bonnetts Energy Centre on Saturday, September 27. The sold-out competition will begin at 7 p.m. MT.

RELATED: Click here for the complete Grande Prairie Game Notes.

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Peace Country Invitational will feature two rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 1 Challenger Series Global event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Saturday. The 10 bull riders with the top scores will then advance to the championship round later than evening, 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 120 national points, in addition to ride score points.

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

Czar, AB (July 18): As the 2025 PBR Canada Touring Pro Division season continued in Czar, Alberta, Brazilian Francisco Costa dominated at the one-round event, delivering the top score to win the Czar Lake Bullarama. Costa was paired with Joker On A Jack at the Czar Lake Rodeo Grounds. Proving to be a perfect combination, Costa conquered the animal athlete for an unmatched 86 points. Courtesy of a double-entry, Costa also tied for fifth via an 83.5-point effort atop Bullseye. Costa left Alberta with 106 national points, rising from No. 9 to then No. 7 in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship, rising within 425.17 points of then No. 1 Dakota Buttar. At present, Costa is ranked No. 8 in Canada but will not compete in Grande Prairie.

North Battleford, SK (July 24): In front of a raucous crowd in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Jared Parsonage showed up and showed out, sweeping the competition and going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the Touring Pro Division’s McDonald’s Colby Cave Memorial PBR Classic. As action got underway in Round 1, Parsonage went head-to-head with Hammer Time. Bursting from the chutes inside Access Communication Centre, Parsonage dominated the powerful animal athlete for a round-winning 84 points. Parsonage then climbed aboard More or Less in the championship round. Parsonage delivered the high-marked ride of the event, scored 87.5 points, to cement his win. Courtesy of the golden finish, Parsonage earned a crucial 62 national points. While he remained No. 3 in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship, he closed within a then 246.17 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar. Buttar went 1-for-2 to finish third, netting 23 national points. After riding Disco Daze for 83.5 points in Round 1, the two-time PBR Canada Champion was bested by Time Marches On in the final round, tossed in a quick 3.65 seconds. Buttar left North Battleford leading No. 2 Jake Gardner by a then 144 points. Gardner, however, was the only other rider to go a flawless 2-for-2, concluding the McDonald’s Colby Cave Memorial PBR Classic second. Gardner first put points on the board in Round 1 when he covered Last Flight Tonight for 82.5 points. He then delivered his second qualified ride in as many attempts when he rode Patiently Waiting for 86 points in the final round. Gardner left the Saskatchewan event with 45 national points. Parsonage, Buttar and Garnder will all be in action this weekend in Grande Prairie, set to climb aboard Special Ops, Linebacker and Hanna Motors Stand By You in Round 1.

Lacombe, AB (July 26): At the Touring Pro Division event in Lacombe, Alberta, Garrett Green went a perfect 2-for-2 to win the Lacombe Pro Bull Riding and gain ground in the race for the season’s Canadian Championship. In Round 1, Green took on Wicked Water. Bursting from the chutes, Green rode the powerful bovine athlete for a round-winning 83.5 points to surge to an early event lead. Green then settled in aboard Toxic Masculinity in Round 2. Making the whistle, the veteran Albertan scored 85 points to clinch the victory. Leaving the Lacombe & District Agriculture Society Grounds with 59 national points, Green remained a then No. 4 in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship. He climbed within 270.33 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar. Buttar was shutout at the Lacombe Pro Bull Riding. He bucked off Effective (Vold Rodeo/R Saga Ranch) in 3.97 seconds in Round 1. Green will not compete this weekend in Grande Prairie.

Tofield, AB (August 7): Aaron Roy rode supreme at the PBR Canada Touring Pro Division event in Tofield, Alberta, winning Tofield Western Days. Roy was sensational at the one-round event. He dominated Holy Smokes for an unrivaled 86 points. The veteran contender also finished fifth courtesy of a double entry, besting Cheeko for 82.5 points. Roy left the Tofield Fairgrounds with 34 national points. He solidified his then No. 9 rank in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship, inching within 505.17 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar. Buttar was shutout at Tofield Western Days. He was bucked off by Leader Of The Pack in 3.25 seconds. Roy, presently ranked No. 9 in Canada, will look to continue his climb up the standings this weekend in Grande Prairie when he attempts Night Fury in Round 1.

Elnora, AB (August 9): As an electric crowd watched on, Gilmar Santana showed up and showed out, delivering the high-marked ride of the Touring Pro Division event in Elnora, Alberta, to win the 25th Elnora Brahma Rama. As competition got underway in Round 1, Santana was tasked with Kish Me Again. Despite being bucked off in 5.4 seconds, Santana was quick to rebound. Next paired with Ramble On in Round 2, Santana burst from the chutes at the Elnora Agriculture Grounds and remained in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete en route to the requisite 8. Santana was marked an event-best 87.5 points to clinch the victory. Santana netted 46 national points for the golden finish. He surged from No. 28 to No. 21 in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship. Santana will not compete this weekend in Grande Prairie.

Stavely, AB (August 16): At the prestigious Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding, Jared Parsonage showed up and showed out, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the event and gain crucial ground in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship. Parsonage got off to a quick start in Round 1, vaulting to the top of the event leaderboard when he bested Tombstone for 85 points. The reserved Saskatchewan man then cemented the win when he outlasted Thunder Down Under for an event-best 86 points in the championship round. Courtesy of the golden finish, Parsonage earned 62 national points. While he remained No. 3 in the race for the 2025 Championship, he inched within a then 164.17 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar. Buttar was unable to grow his lead after going 0-for-1 at Stavely Arena. He was upended by Cracker Jack in 3.66 seconds in Round 1.

Raymond, AB (August 20): As the 2025 PBR Canada season continued in Raymond, Alberta, Gilmar Santana rode a cut above the rest, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the Touring Pro Division’s R.K. Heggie PBR and crack the Top 10 in the national standings. As action got underway at the Raymond Rodeo Grounds, Santana was tasked with Kish Me Again in Round 1. Proving to be a perfect pairing, Santana rode the bovine athlete for 84 points to finish second in the opening round. The Brazilian newcomer then clinched the victory when he outlasted Bon Jovi for 84.5 points in the final round. Garnering 56 national points, Santana climbed from No. 21 to No. 13 in the battle for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship. He inched within a then 620.67 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar who did not compete in Raymond.

Sunnybrook, AB (August 23): In Sunnybrook, Alberta, 2017 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year Coy Robbins dominated, sweeping both rounds of competition at the Touring Pro Division event at Sunnybrook Hotel and Bar to win the Buckin’ At The Brook. In Round 1, Robbins went head-to-head with Dealing After Midnight. Remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, Robbins was marked a round-winning 86 points. Robbins then readied to take on Times A Tickin. Nodding with confidence, the reserved Albertan made the requisite 8 with ease. Scored an event-best 87 points, the qualified ride not only won Robbins the round, but also the event. Courtesy of the golden finish, Robbins netted 62 points. He rose from No. 8 to a then No. 6 in Canada, climbing within 396.5 points of No. 1 Dakota Buttar. Robbins will travel to Grande Prairie ranked No. 6 in Canada, set to climb aboard Pay Day in Round 1 of the Cup Series’ Peace Country Invitational.

Armstrong, BC (August 31): As action continued in Armstrong, British Columbia, Jake Gardner wowed the home province crowd, delivering the high-marked ride of the Touring Pro Division event at the Armstrong Fairgrounds, to win the Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede. Gardner was sensational in Round 1 of action. He bested Wise Guy for 85 points to surge to an early event lead. Despite being bucked off by Dark Mark in 5.34 seconds in the final round, his opening score proved enough to cement the win. The veteran contender left the British Columbia event with a crucial 108 national points. While he remained No. 2 in Canada, Gardner slashed No. 1 Dakota Buttar’s lead from 129 points to 21 points.

Kindersley, SK (September 5): After the dust settled on two nights of fierce PBR Canada Touring Pro Division action in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Jake Gardner emerged supreme, going a perfect 3-for-3 to win the Energy Dodge Dakota Buttar Invitational and close within a mere 1.5 points in the race for the 2025 Canadian Championship. Gardner first put points on the board in Round 1 when he bested Black and Decker for 82 points. Positioned eighth on the leaderboard ahead of Round 2, Gardner then punched his ticket to the championship round and climbed the leaderboard courtesy of an 82.5-point score aboard Says Who. In the final round, Gardner elected to go head-to-head with Dark Mark. Remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, the British Columbia native reached the requisite 8 with ease, awarded an event-winning 82.5 points. As the only rider to go a perfect 3-for-3, Gardner’s win earned him a crucial 125.5 national points. While he remained No. 2 in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $100,000 bonus, he decimated No. 1 Dakota Buttar’s lead from 21 to 1.5 points. Buttar, however, prevented Gardner from overtaking the top spot by finishing second at his namesake event to collect 106 national points. After bucking off Woozy in a close 3.73 seconds in Round 1, Buttar returned with a vengeance on Championship Saturday. The two-time PBR Canada Champion began the evening by winning Round 2 via an 86.5-point ride on Write This Down. He then won his second round in as many outs when he outlasted God Bless for 87 points.

PAST GRANDE PRAIRIE EVENT WINNERS – Last September in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Cody Coverchuk went a perfect 3-for-3 to win the Cup Series’ Peace Country Invitational and overtake the No. 1 rank in the fierce race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship. The Saskatchewan man first put points on the board when he tied for third in Round 1 via an 84-point ride on Times A Wasting. He then overtook the second spot on the event leaderboard when he covered Two Bills for 83 points. In the championship round, Coverchuk elected to go head-to-head with Langham Kid, a decision which proved dividends. Remaining in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, Coverchuk reached the whistle for and event-best 87.5 points, clinching the victory. Coverchuk’s golden finish earned him a crucial 231 national points. After traveling to Grande Prairie ranked No. 2 in Canada, 3 points behind then No. 1 Nick Tetz, Coverchuk overtook the top spot, propelled 173 points ahead of new No. 2 Tetz.

2024 Cody Coverchuk
2023 Dakota Buttar
2022 Aaron Roy
2021 Jake Gardner
2020 Lonnie West
2020 Dakota Buttar
2020 Dakota Buttar
2020 Zane Lambert/Callum Miller

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Peace Country Invitational will feature five rematches. Those riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Three-time PBR Canada Champion Aaron Roy will attempt Night Fury for the second time in his career. The two first danced this past July at the Touring Pro Division event in North Battleford, Saskatchewan as Roy was bucked off in 3.68 seconds.
• Cauy Schmidt will look to remain perfect against Brimstone. Schmidt rode the bull for 82.5 points at the July 2024 Touring Pro Division event in Calgary, Alberta.
• Coy Robbins will be keen to even the score against Pay Day. When he first drew the bull at the October 2024 Cup Series event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Robbins was bucked off in 5.38 seconds.
• Griffin Koester will climb aboard Patiently Waiting for the second time in his career. Earlier this summer at the Touring Pro Division event in Calgary, Alberta, the powerful animal athlete got the better of Koester in 2.97 seconds.
• Jake Gardner will face the final rematch of the round when he attempts Hanna Motors Stand By You. Gardner and the bull met this May at the Touring Pro Division event in Melfort, Saskatchewan as Garnder was sent airborne in 5.01 seconds.

NEXT UP – The PBR Canada Cup Series will next travel to Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Co-op Place for the Medicine Hat Classic on Saturday, October 18. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. MT.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, are Jesse Byrne, Tanner Byrne and Brett Monea.

 

GRANDE PRAIRIE COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Brazil (2) – Jerson Arantes, Gilmar Santana

Canada (21) – Logan Biever, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Jake Gardner, Wyatt Gleeson, Griffin Koester, Jett Lambert, Eric O’Flynn, Jeremy Maisonneauve, Tristen Manning, Shay Marks, Austin Paley, Jared Parsonage, Coy Robbins, Aaron Roy, Cauy Schmidt, Tanner Skene, Scott Smith, Stefan Tonita, Lonnie West

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Logan Biever, Wyatt Gleeson, Griffin Koester, Jett Lambert, Tristen Manning, Shay Marks, Austin Paley, Coy Robbins, Cauy Schmidt, Scott Smith, Lonnie West; British Columbia – Jake Gardner, Eric O‘Flynn; Quebec – Jeremy Maisonneauve; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Jared Parsonage, Aaron Roy, Tanner Skene, Stefan Tonita.