Miller sweeps Round 1 and 5/5 Bucking Battle at season-launch PBR Canada Cup Series event
By Lethbridge Herald on August 28, 2021.
Callum Miller was the dominant force as the 2021 season for the elite Professional Bull Riders Canada Cup Series got underway Friday night at the Enmax Centre.
The rider from Warwick, Queensland spept both Round 1 and the 5/5 Bucking Battle accompanying the PBR South Country Co-op Showdown, earning a combined 27 national points to crack the Top-10 in the race for the 2021 PBR Canada Championship and $50,000 bonus.
As the first rider to reach the requisite 8 in Round 1, Miller covered Finning JB Muley for 84 points.
While four additional riders would also post scores in the opening round, including two who matched Miller, the early effort was enough to net the 26-year-old the co-win for the first Cup Series round of the 2021 season.
In addition to earning 12 national points for the qualified ride, Miller also punched his ticket to the 5/5 Bucking Battle that accompanied the main event.
Facing Hanna Motors Wilford in the special round, Miller was once again poised, matching the bull jump-for-jump en route to an event-best 88-point score.
The victory in the first 5/5 Bucking Battle of the 2021 Cup Series earned Miller an additional 15 national points.
The golden finishes allowed Miller to gain ample ground in the national standings as he attempts to become the first Australian in league history to win the PBR Canada Championship.
After travelling to Lethbridge ranked No. 16, Miller is now inside the Top-10 and the No. 9 rider in Canada, 77.66 points behind No. 1 Nick Tetz of Calgary.
As the main event continues at the Enmax Centre with Round 2 Saturday evening, Miller will next face off against Edge of Tomorrow.
Two-time PBR Canada Champion Zane Lambert of Ponoka and Albertan standout Brock Radford of De Winton also tied for the Round 1 win alongside Miller.
Lambert brought the Lethbridge crowd to its feet when he rode Gandy for 84 points, while Radford delivered a matching score aboard Beer Buzz.
For Radford, his out with Beer Buzz was a rematch and avenged a buckoff from 2020 when the bovine athlete bucked him off at the Glen Keeley Memorial Bull Riding in a quick 3.19 seconds.
While both Lambert and Radford advanced to the evening’s 5/5 Bucking Battle, neither were able to log their second qualified ride of the night, dispatched by Irish Rebel and Muzzle Blast, respectively.
Lambert and Radford each earned 12 national points and rose in the national standings.
Lambert entered the event No. 9 in the nation and is now tied for No. 6, 72.16 points behind the No. 1 rank.
Seeking his first event win of the 2021 season, Lambert will next climb aboard Bob Rock in Round 2.
Radford surged from unranked to now being tied for the No. 17 position, 108.66 points removed from the top-ranked rider.
The 26-year-old will face his second familiar opponent of the event in the second round when he goes head-to-head against Grey Tower III.
Having met three times prior, Radford has made the whistle twice, including for 88 points in their most recent showdown in Lloydminster last year.
Fourth in Round 1 was Lonnie West of Cadogan, collecting six national points for his 83.5-point ride on Shameless.
Despite earning a position in the 5/5 Bucking Battle, West was unable to compete due to a nagging injury.
Advancing in West’s position was Chad Hartman of Lancer, Sask., who capitalized on his second chance. Rising to the occasion in the special round, Hartman covered Finning Twitch for 85 points to finish second and earn 12 national points.
Rounding out the Top-five in Round 1 was Logan Biever of Claresholm in fifth.
Making the 8 atop Smash for 81.5 points, Biever earned four national points to leave Enmax Centre Friday evening the No. 13-ranked rider in Canada.
Biever will next attempt Hot Tamale in Round 2.
PBR Canada Cup Series action will conclude on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with Round 2 and the championship round.
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