EDMONTON –
The action kicked off Friday night at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada’s first-ever National Final in Edmonton.
The world’s best bull riders compete at Rogers Place for the 2021 Championship and a prize of $ 50,000. The event features four bull riding rounds, with the first two taking place on Friday and the final rounds on Saturday.
Defending PBR Canada champion Dakota Buttar of Kindersley, Sask., Battled a groin injury to remain the top runner nationally after a 1-on-2 effort, collecting two national points.
Should Buttar win the national title again this year, he would become the first rider to earn that honor in consecutive seasons.
Cody Coverchuk of Meadow Lake, Sask., Currently sits second after being unable to convert on Friday, escaping in 3.31 seconds in the first round and 1.66 seconds in the second round.
Jordan Hansen of Okotoks, Alta., Is in third place while Zane Lambert of Ponoka, Alta., Follows in fourth.
Jake Gardner of Fort St. John, BC, rounds out the top five runners in contention for the championship.
Gardner gained the most ground in the title race on Friday after winning the second round. He moved from seventh place nationally to fifth and moved closer to 132.83 points behind Buttar.
On Friday only four riders were clear, including Daylon Swearingen of Piffard, NY, and Todd Chotowetz of Major, Sask.
The top three riders in the event standings to date are Chotowetz, Swearingen and Michael Ostashek from Edson, Alta.
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