Brooks, AB: Zane Lambert won the first ever Elite Professional Bullriders Canadian Finals last night at the Silver Sage Arena. He rode every single bull he attempted and picked up a very impressive check. Josh Birks remained as the year end champion as his lead going into the finals was large enough, no one could catch him.
It was a full house crowd for the 7:00pm show as fans watched in anticipation. Things started off well, despite one rider not showing up. Everyone who wanted to re-enter had the chance. Zane Lambert was the one who was picked and would ride twice. It worked out big time in his favour, making it back to the short go on both his mounts.
Along with the finals competition for the riders was an eight team, bull team competition. $2,000 was added in prize money with entry fees of $500.
One of the rankest bulls out the entire night in my opinion was second one out of the chutes. It was Scissons’ Sinister Kid leaving Dakota Petersen out to dry.
Tristan Carlier started things off early, taking the lead with an 84 on Lazy R’s Boot Strap Bill.
After a slight lull in the action due to difficulty loading a wild one, Ashton Arychuk got himself in a bad wreck with Rafter G’s Bet On Deuces, waking the crowd back up to the real live bull riding at hand. My brother and I rode with Ashton to and from Strathmore, he was in rough shape, but posted last night on Facebook that this wasn’t the way he wanted to start his year.
Near the end of the Long Go, late replacement Cody Coverchuk stepped up and threw down a big 86.5 on the Vold/Prescott’s CFR and PBR Canadian Finalist, Uncle Buck.
Ronny Delarue got in a bit of a mess with Two Bit’s Danger Ranger yet closer to the finish of the qualifier.
With that, this is how the long go would be paid out.
1. Cody Coverchuk, 86.5 on Prescott & Vold’s 803 Uncle Buck, $877.74; 2. Tristan Carlier on Lazy R’s 605 Boot Strap Bill, 84, $726.41; 3. Zane Lambert, 83, $575.07; 4. (tie) Zane Lambert & Adam Jamison, 82, $348.07; 6. (tie) Tyler Pankewitz & Josh Birks, 81.5, $75.67; 8. Dan Hansen, 80.5.
After a very well represented calcutta and the bull picks, Zane Lambert would move to an early lead in the average with two scores. 83 points was the result on Outlawbuckers’ Dakota Joe. Josh Birks would answer back with an 83.5 on the newer Vold Bull, 846 Itchy. Once the scores were tallied up, both were tied in the average at 165 on two head.
Dan Hansen went next making it three for three on the riders side of things, tying both Zane and Josh for the lead with an 84.5 on Lazy R’s 732 Dumas Walker.
New Zealand’s Adam Jamison came up short against Prescott’s 906 Hippy Tricks. Meadow Lake, SK’s Cody Coverchuk had the first pick in the draft. He was looking for a left spinner and I thought Rafter G’s 991 Moe Banger did go left. Turns out he didn’t last night. As it turned out, there weren’t many that went left in the Short Go.
Medicine Hat Cowboy Tristan Carlier picked deep into pen with the PBR World Finalist and PBR Canada Bull of the Finals, Two Bit Bucking Bulls’ 861 Bucking Fantastic.
Scissons’ 546 Bold Ruckus had to be one of the hardest bulls I’ve ever watched when he bucked last night with Tyler Pankewtz. That video is a YouTube extra that you should find if you type in “hardest bull ever.”
By the time Zane Lambert’s second Short Go appearance came around, he had already won the event in a three way tie for first. For Zane though, that wasn’t enough. He had another bull to ride yet to get past the 85 point range which had plagued him thus far this year. 90 points was the result on U1 True Blood owned by Vold Rodeo, Prescott Bucking Bulls and Kevin and Holly Schultz. Spectacular.
Short Go Payout
1. Zane Lambert on Vold/Prescott/Schultz’s U1 True Blood, 90, $1,210.68; 2. Dan Hansen, 84.5, $908.01; 3. Josh Birks, 83.5, $605.34; 4. Zane Lambert, 83, $302.67.
Average Payout
1. Zane Lambert, 173/2, $1,614.24, 2. (tie) Dan Hansen, Josh Birks and Zane Lambert, 165/2, $807.12.
The bull team champion was the Prescott and Vold Team consisting of, True Blood, Uncle Buck, Pirate Style and In the Club. That paid them out $2,400.
The high scored ride of the night bonus was won by Zane Lambert for an extra $500, he also picked up $600 from the calcutta. That brought his evening total to $5,817.85! Like Tanner Girletz told me when the bulls were being picked, Zane is going to win a pile of money tonight.
This is what Zane had to say after picking up his new buckle.
A title that was already decided before we got to Brooks was that of the season champion. That title went to Josh Birks. He won over $24,000 in the EPB this year. He and I did an interview after the event but the sound didn’t work on my primary camera. I’ll have that interview coming your way later today.
A huge Thank You goes out to everyone that made this event happen, from the judges, contestants, stock contractors, bullfighters, announcer, sponsors, fans and volunteers. An even bigger congratulations and Thank You goes out to Tayla Fraser and Ken & Sandy McGinnis. Without everyone working together, this event wouldn’t have been the success it was!
Best of luck to everyone in 2013!
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