PBR weekend arrives in Lethbridge

By Lethbridge Herald on September 22, 2022.

(Covy Moore/CovyMoore.com) Two- time PBR Canada tour champion Zane Lambert is pictured riding at a past Lethbridge event . Lambert is hoping to climb the standings this weekend after a tough start to the season.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

For the fourth  consecutive season PBR’s Elite Canada Cup Series South Country Co-op Showdownrides into Lethbridge tonight and tomorrow night at the Enmax Centre.

This is the fifth stop of the professional bull riding event series and will have 27 competitors  vying for the win.

Ponoka’s Zane Lambert, who was last year’s Lethbridge champion and a two-time PBR champion, is always fond of coming to Lethbridge because of the crowd.

“It’s one of our favourite cities to come to,” said Lambert.

“They always have a good crowd there at Enmax and a younger crowd; so we should see a lot more cheers and stuff. It’s just a great crowd there in Lethbridge. They fill the house there and it’s pretty good.”

Lambert said they always bring the good bulls to Lethbridge.

“So that, I always look forward to,” said Lambert” said Lambert .

“You know you always get on the good bulls and you always have a chance to win.It’s a very well, productive event and it’s just one of the best ones all year.” An arena-style rodeo setting feels like home to Lambert.

“You know every time they set up one of those bull riding arenas in these rinks, it kind of feels like home for me,” said Lambert.

“I guess it kind of makes you feel good when you’ve got a good crowd, good money to win too and good bulls to get on.”

This will be Lambert’s first ride since breaking his ribs on Aug. 1.

“This will be first one back in eight weeks,” he said.

“So we’ll be really fresh and ready to go. I was able to get some good points on the board that held up through the summer, I wasn’t able to go to a lot of events, but I did good in the summer, good in the spring and that’s carried me through  and keep me in the position I’m in. And now we’ve got five of the big events and so really looking to climb up that leaderboard.”

Nansen Bold, also of Ponoka, has been involved with rodeo and PBR as a stock contractor  for over 20 years.

“I think there’s seven or eight contractors coming, so it’s going to be good that way (and) lots of guys bringing their best stuff to showcase,” said Bold.

“ So the rider match up should be decent. I haven’t seen any lists of guys sitting on what yet, but I know the short round is stacked up— meaning that the bulls in that championship round will be a little more higher scoring involved.”

Bold said these bulls are well conditioned and have been  on the road for a while now and are used to the trail.

“They’re in tip-top shape, put on the best feed possible and just keeping them healthy and sound and ready to perform is a big step,” said Bold.

“But we look after them like they’re kids. So they get treated very well and we pick the best ones for these cup series. It’s going to be pretty good to watch.”

The bull’s age is anywhere between four and eight years old.

“Lethbridge has become a staple event for PBR Canada’s Elite Cup Series and is one our whole team and rider roster looks forward to annually,” said Jason Davidson, PBR Canada’s general manager.

“ The environment inside ENMAX Centre is second to none. Once someone attends a PBR in Lethbridge, and experiences one of Brinson James’ unmatched singalongs, and our world-class bull riding, they will be a fan for life. The crowd in Lethbridge brings an unrivaled energy, and we can’t wait to welcome them back this Friday and Saturday for the PBR South Country Co-op Showdown.”

Claresholm’s Logan Biever is ranked No. 1 in the Canadian standings, followed by the Dakota Buttar (297 points), Brock Radford(286.5 points), Blake Smith (199.33 points), Aaron Roy (170 points), Coy Robbins (164 points), Lonnie West (146 points), Nick Tetz (141 points), Cody Coverchuk (139 points) and Daylon Swearingen (112 points) round out the top 10.

Lambert has 105. 5 points and sits in 11th.

The show starts at 7 p.m. both nights and tickets are still available at https://enmaxcentre.evenue.net/  or at the Enmax Centre box office.