Game Notes – Brandon

BUCKING INTO BRANDON – This weekend, for the third time in history, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into Brandon, Manitoba. The PBR Mazergroup Chute Out, the third elite tour event of the season, will be held at Westoba Place at Keystone Centre on Saturday, May 27. Action will begin at 7:00 p.m. CDT.   

RELATED: Click here for the complete Brandon Game Notes. 

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Mazergroup Chute Out 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 Saturday. The 10 bull riders with the best combined 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.

REWIND … LOOKING BACK AT LETHBRIDGE – It’s been more than two months since the elite Cup Series was in action, holding the second event of the season in Lethbridge, Alberta, in early March. In front of a sold-out crowd inside ENMAX Centre, 2022 PBR Canada Champion Nick Tetz made a statement, going a perfect 3-for-3 to win the South Country Co-op Showdown, presented by VisitLethbridge.com. Compliments of the victory, Tetz has now won each of the four Cup Series events held in Lethbridge since 2022. Marking his debut on Canadian soil in 2024, Tetz, who rides for the Arizona Ridge Riders in the separate PBR Teams league, first put points on the board in Round 1 when he bested Lord Fear for 79 points. Tetz then climbed the leaderboard in Round 2 when he topped Irish Car Bomb for 85 points. In the championship round bull draft, Tetz elected to go head-to-head with Grand Funk. In a decision which proved dividends, Tetz remained in perfect time with the powerful animal athlete, reaching the requisite 8 with ease. Marked an event-best 89 points, the ride clinched the event win for Tetz. The golden finish garnered Tetz a crucial 130 national points. He rose from unranked to then No. 4 in the race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship, inching within 186.5 points of No. 1 Cody Coverchuk. Coverchuk went 2-for-3 to finish second and earn 88.5 national points. The two-time PBR Canada Champion was the event leader following the opening two rounds of competition as he tied for the Round 1 win via his 86-point ride on Smoke Bomb, and then posted the fourth-best score of Round 2 when dominated Jokers Grin for 83.5 points. Coverchuk, however, fell short of the event win in the championship round when he was upended by Langham Kid in a heart-breaking 7.92 seconds. Along with his runner-up finish in the main event, Coverchuk also won the tour stop’s accompanying 5/5 Bucking Battle. In the special round, he rode Wild Time for 86 points. Coverchuk left Lethbridge having earned 111.5 national points. Chasing his record-tying third national title, he rose from No. 2 to No. 1 in the standings, pulling a then 96.5 points ahead of No. 2 Jake Gardner. Tetz will travel to Brandon ranked No. 5 in Canada, trailing No. 1 Coverchuk by 287 points. Tetz has drawn Trust Issues in Round 1 of competition in Manitoba.

LET’S RECAP TPD ACTION – Since the last bull bucked at the most recent Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, four Touring Pro Division events have been held on Canadian soil. Here is a look back at those events:

Marwayne: In Marwayne, Alberta, Wyatt Gleeson showed up and showed out, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the Marwayne PBR. Gleeson got off to a quick start in Round 1, delivering what would remain the high-marked ride of the event when he conquered Lil Nasty for 87 points. In the second round, the reserved Albertan then cemented his victory when he split the Round 2 win, dominating Black Beetle for 85 points. The golden finish earned Gleeson 38.5 national points. He rose from No. 10 to then No. 8 in the race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $100,000 bonus, climbing within a then 232.5 points of No. 1 Cody Coverchuk, who did not compete. Gleeson, who is currently ranked No. 11 in Canada, is not scheduled to compete in Brandon.

Brooks: In Brooks, Alberta, Gilmar Santana reached a crucial career milestone, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win his career first event, victorious at the Koye Larson Memorial PBR. Riding at just his third career PBR event, Santana was quick to strike in Round 1, delivering the second-best score as he covered Smog for 84 points. Sanatana then clinched the victory in the championship round when he logged the high-marked ride of the night, teaming with High Voltage for an unrivaled 87.5 points. The golden finish earned Santana a crucial 59 national points. He surged from unranked to then No. 11 in the race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship, propelled within a then 257.5 points of No. 1 Cody Coverchuk. Coverchuk was shutout inside Centennial Regional Arena, unable to grow his lead in the standings. The veteran contender was tossed by Cadillac Style in 3.41 seconds in Round 1of the Koye Larson Memorial PBR. Santana will make his Cup Series debut this weekend in Brandon, drawing Sons of Junkie as the first rider out in Round 1.

Camrose: In Camrose, Alberta, Cody Coverchuk delivered a statement performance, going a perfect 2-for-2 inside Encana Arena to win the Rose City Invitational, furthering his grasp on the No. 1 rank in the national standings. Coverchuk is chasing history this season, attempting to earn his third PBR Canada Championship and tie veteran Aaron Roy for most titles won by one rider. In Round 1, Coverchuk delivered the fourth-best score as he covered Night Fury for 84 points. The reserved Saskatchewan man then faced Emerald Inn in the championship round. Nodding with confidence, Coverchuk remained in perfect time with the animal athlete, reaching the requisite 8 with ease. Marked an event-best 86.5 points, the score clinched the event win for Coverchuk. The golden finish garnered the two-time PBR Canada Champion a crucial 119 national points. While he traveled to Camrose 96.5 points ahead, grew is lead to be a then 131.5 points over No. 2 Jake Gardner via the win. Gardner prevented Coverchuk from increasing his lead further by finishing second at the Rose City Invitational, earning 84 national points. The Prince of the Peace Country rode Bench Warrant for 82.5 points in Round 1, before going to distance on Superstition for 86.5 points in the championship round. While Gardner will not be competing in Brandon, Coverchuk, who is still No. 1 in Canada by 131.5 points, will look to grow his lead when he climbs aboard a familiar opponent in Emerald Inn.

Waskesiu Lake: In Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan, Gilmar Santana emerged the supreme competitor, delivering a perfect 2-for-2 performance at Elk Ridge Resort to win 8 Seconds at The Ridge. Santana first put points on the board in Round 1 when he delivered the fifth-best score, marked 80-points atop Funk Master. The up-and-coming Brazilian then clinched the event win in the championship round when he conquered Samcro for 83.5 points. The golden finish garnered Santana 53 national points. Compliments of a double entry, Santana also finished seventh. His 79.5-point ride on Mad Hatter in Round 1 netted him an additional 11 national points. The collective 64 national points allowed Santana to surge from No. 10 to No. 4 in the race for the 2024 PBR Canada Championship. He is now within 280.5 points of No. 1 Cody Coverchuk. Coverchuk’s 131.5-point lead over No. 2 Jake Gardner went unchanged as neither rider competed at 8 Seconds at The Ridge.

PAST BRANDON EVENT WINNERS – When the Cup Series last travelled to Brandon in May 2023, in front of a near-capacity crowd, Aaron Roy delivered a flawless 2-for-2 performance to win the tour stop. Less than 24 hours after earning his first victory of the season, dominating the Touring Pro Division event in nearby Winnipeg, Roy climbed aboard Emerald Inn in Round 1 inside Westoba Place at The Keystone Centre. In what proved to be a perfect pairing, three-time PBR Canada Champion Roy dominated the bull en route to the whistle, marked 85.5 points. Roy then selected The Remedy as his championship round opponent. Remaining in what seemed to be perfect time with the animal athlete, Roy was initially called for a buckoff past the 7.6-second mark. He challenged the call and after the judges’ review was deemed to have made the requisite 8, marked a victory-clinching 89 points. Courtesy of the win, Roy garnered a crucial 116 national points, vaulting from No. 11 to No. 3 in the fierce title race. He ultimately concluded the year No. 6 in Canada, falling just short of his record fourth national title. This weekend, Roy returns to Brandon ranked No. 14 and will first take on Nosler in Round 1 as he looks to defend his event tile.

2023 Aaron Roy
2022 Blake Smith

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out will feature five rematches. Those riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Cody Coverchuk will look to remain perfect against Emerald Inn as they square off for the fourth time in PBR competition. The two first met in July 2023 at the Touring Pro Division event in Lacombe, Alberta, when Coverchuk made the requisite 8 for 84.5 points. Less then three months later they matched up again, this time at the Cup Series event in Grande Prairie, Alberta, in early October to team for an 87.5-point score. The two most recently danced in May 2024 at the Touring Pro Division event in Camrose, Alberta. There, Coverchuk conquered Emerald Inn for 86.5 points.
• Weston Davidson will look to even the score against Busta Rhymes. Their first two showdowns ended in buckoffs with the bovine athlete tossing Davidson in 2.72 seconds in May 2023 at the Cup Series event in Brandon, Manitoba, and then in 1.76 seconds in July 2023 at the Touring Pro Division event in Lacombe, Alberta. However, their most recent meeting ended in a score for Davidson as he covered Busta Rhymes for 83.5 points earlier this month at the Touring Pro Division event in Camrose, Alberta.
• Chad Hartman will look to repeat his past success atop Chairman Frank. During Round 1 of the 2023 PBR Canada National Finals in Edmonton, Alberta, Hartman rode the bull for 81.5 points.
• Chanse Switzer will attempt to reverse his fortunes on Allemand Left. In March 2024 at the Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, the bull tossed Switzer in 2.58 seconds.
• Cody Fraser has drawn the final rematch in Jail Break. In their one showdown on record, the animal athlete bested Fraser in a close 6.29 seconds at the October 2023 Cup Series event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

NEXT UP – The 2024 PBR Canada Sup Series will next travel to London, Ontario, and Budweiser Gardens for the PBR London Classic on Saturday, June 1. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. EDT.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Lethbridge, Alberta, are Jesse Byrne, Tanner Byrne and Chase Keeley.

2024 5/5 BUCKING BATTLE SCHEDULE AND RESULTS - Each 5/5 Bucking Battle features the Top 5 riders from the event following Round 1, competing against the five highest-ranked bulls at the event for extra bonus points and an additional purse. Here are the winners of the special rounds thus far in 2024:

March 1 in Lethbridge, Alberta | Cody Coverchuk, 86 points on Wild Time

 

BRANDON COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Australia (2) – Cody Fraser, Callum Miller

Brazil (1) – Gilmar Santana

Canada (21) – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Tyler Craig, Weston Davidson, Garrett Green, Dusty Golden, Jordan Hansen, Chad Hartman, Keaton Martz, Micheal Ostashek, Jared Parsonage, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Aaron Roy, Ashton Sahli, Cart Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Chanse Switzer, Nick Tetz, Stefan Tonita, Alison Trindade

Paraguay (1) – Fabien Dueck

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Tyler Craig, Dusty Golden, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Keaton Martz, Micheal Ostashek, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Ashton Sahli, Carter Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Nick Tetz, Alison Trindade,; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Chad Hartman, Jared Parsonage, Aaron Roy, Chanse Switzer, Stefan Tonita.