Blake Smith Wins Canadian Touring Pro Division Event in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan to Overtake No. 1 Rank in the Race for the 2022 PBR Canada Championship

MEADOW LAKE, Sask. – Canadian young gun Blake Smith (Abbey, Saskatchewan) continued his breakthrough season Thursday evening, returning to home soil to compete at the fourth PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada Touring Pro Division event of the year in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. As the only rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Smith won the Eagle Creek GM PBR Classic, catapulting him to the No. 1 rank in the race for the 2022 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $50,000 bonus.

The newly minted Austin Gamblers contender first put points on the board in Round 1 when he covered Hanna Motors Rhythm & Blues (Skori Bucking Bulls) for 80 points.

Tied for seventh on the event leaderboard entering the championship round, Smith next readied to attempt Look Alive (Flying Four Bucking Bulls). In full control, Smith made the requisite 8 for 77 points, clinching the event win.

The victory is the second of Smith’s young career, first capturing the win at the 2022season-launch Touring Pro Division stop in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

The 20-year-old’s latest golden finish earned him a critical 25 national points, elevating Smith from No. 4 to No. 1 in the national standings. Smith now leads No. 2 Coy Robbins (Camrose, Alberta) by 12.5 points.

While Robbins slipped to No. 2 in the standings, he remained within striking distance of the top position after he tied for fourth at the Meadow Lake Stampede Grounds.

Robbins posted his lone score of the event in the opening round of competition, riding Thor’s Hammer (Wild Hoggs Bucking Bulls) for 81 points, collecting 6 national points.

Fellow Austin Gamblers free agent Griffin Smeltzer (Claresholm, Alberta) tied for fourth alongside Robbins.

Also positing an 81-point score in Round 1 to take home 6 national points, Smeltzer covered Eeyore (S&M).

Smeltzer is now tied for the No. 3 rank in the Canadian national standings, 18 points behind No. 1 Smith.

Returning to the top of the leaderboard, 2020 PBR Canada Champion Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) parlayed a Round 1 win into a runner-up finish overall.

Buttar delivered the highest-scored ride of the evening when he reached the whistle aboard Finning JB Muley (Flying Four Bucking Bulls) for 84 points.

Leaving Meadow Lake having earned 17 national points, Buttar rose seven positions in the national standings, climbing from No. 12 to No. 5. Attempting to become just the fourth multi-time PBR Canada Champion in history in 2022, Buttar trails the top position by a slim 21 points.

Third was 2018 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta), earning 13 national points.

Going 1-for-2, Tetz rode Salty Dog (Eno Bucking Bulls) for 83.5 points in Round 1.

In the bull pen, Time Well Spent (Thompson Rodeo Livestock) bucked supreme. Capturing the Bull of the Event honor, Time Well Spent was marked 45 points in the championship round for his 2.53-second trip with Tanner Skene (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan).

The 2022 PBR Canada Season continues June 10 in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, for the Eagle Creek GM PBR Classic. Action at the Meadow Lake Stampede Grounds begins a 7:00 p.m. CST on Friday, June 10.

Stay tuned in to PBRCanada.com and follow the tour on Facebook (PBR Canada), Twitter (@PBRCanada), and Instagram (@PBRCanada) for the latest results, news, stats and more.

PBR Canada Touring Pro Division
Eagle Creek GM PBR Classic
Meadow Lake Stampede Grounds – Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
(Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Blake Smith, 80-77-157-25
2. Dakota Buttar, 84-0-84-17
3. Nick Tetz, 83.5-0-83.5-13
4. Griffin Smeltzer, 81-0-81-6
(tie). Coy Robbins, 81-0-81-6
6. Marcos Gloria, 80.5-0-80.5-2
(tie). Callum Miller, 80.5-0-80.5-2
8. Garrett Green, 80-0-80-0
9. Jake Maher [2], 78-0-78-0
Fabian Dueck, 0-0-0.00-0
Ethan Schultz, 0-0-0.00-0
Jake Maher, 0-0-0.00-0
Todd Chotowetz, 0-0-0.00-0
Lonnie Phillips, 0-0-0.00-0
Tanner Eno, 0-0-0.00-0
Logan Biever, 0-0-0.00-0
Ashton Sahli, 0-0-0.00-0
Cauy Schmidt, 0-0-0.00-0
Cody Coverchuk, 0-0-0.00-0
Tyler Craig, 0-0-0.00-0
Tanner Skene, 0-0-0.00-0
Lonnie West, 0-0-0.00-0