West Dominates in Prince Albert to Win Inaugural Tanner Byrne Invitational
By: Kacie Albert
PRINCE ALBERT, Saskatchewan – At the first-ever Tanner Byrne Invitational, part of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada Touring Pro Division, held at the Byrne Family ranch in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, no rider was more dominant than Lonnie West (Cadogan, Alberta). Sweeping both Round 1 and the championship round, West marched to victory, claiming his first PBR event win since August 2019.
The 24-year-old began the event with a Round 1-best, 86-point ride aboard Broken Trigger (Skori Bucking Bulls).
Sitting atop the leaderboard ahead of the final round, West’s momentum continued, covering 2019 PBR Canada Bull of the Finals Finning Lil Shorty (Flying Four Bucking Bulls) for an event-best, and career-high, 89.5 points.
West’s flawless performance earned him a cheque for $2,305.63, in addition to 32 Canadian and 10 world points.
After beginning the event No. 27 in the national standings, the Albertan catapulted to No. 13, now 207.5 points behind No. 1 Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan).
Buttar competed at the Tanner Byrne Invitational, however was unable to further his stronghold on the No. 1 position after he was bucked off by Wilford (Skori Bucking Bulls) in 5.51 seconds in Round 1.
Two-time PBR Canada Champion Zane Lambert (Ponoka, Alberta), was second, earning $1,576, 17.5 Canadian and 6 world points.
The veteran rider was the only other cowboy to go a perfect 2-for-2, covering Finning Overhaul (Flying Four Bucking Bulls) in the first round for 85 points, before going the distance aboard Turn Back Time (Flying Four Bucking Bulls) in the championship round for 85.5 points.
Lambert rose two positions in the national standings, climbing from No. 8 to No. 6, now within 157 points of the top ranking.
In third was 2018 PBR Canada Rookie of the Year Nick Tetz (Calgary, Alberta).
Propelled to the bronze finish by an 85.5-point ride aboard Smash (Skori Bucking Bulls), the 20-year-old earned $892.50, 13 Canadian and 4 world points.
Tetz rose one position in the PBR Canada national standings, now No. 9 and within 176 points of No. 1 Buttar.
Backed by an 85-point ride aboard Tom Petty (Skori Bucking Bulls) in Round 1, Jake Gardner (Fort St. John, British Columbia) finished fourth.
He collected a cheque for $550.38, along with 6.5 Canadian and 3 world points.
Gardner maintained his No. 12 ranking, but is now within 204 points of the nation’s top spot
Rounding out the Top 5 was Fabian Dueck (Loma Plata, Paraguay).
He rode Smart and Shiny (Skori Bucking Bulls) for 81 points in Round 1, netting $249.50, 4 Canadian and 2 world points.
In the bull pen, Finning Drop Bear (Flying Four Bucking Bulls) was the high-marked bull of the event. The powerful bovine athlete was marked an event-best 44.5 points for his 4.59-second buckoff of Gardner in the championship round.
The PBR Canada Touring Pro Division will next travel to Stavely, Alberta and Stavely Arena for the Glen Keeley Memorial on Saturday, August 22. Action gets underway at 5:00 p.m. MT.
PBR Canada Touring Pro Division – Tanner Byrne Invitational
Byrne Family Ranch – Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Event Leaders (Round 1- Round 2-Event Aggregate-Canadian Points)
1. Lonnie West, 86-89.5-175.5-32
2. Zane Lambert, 85-85.5-170.5-17.5
3. Nick Tetz, 85.5-0-85.5-13
4. Jake Gardner, 85-0-85-6.5
5. Fabian Dueck, 81-0-81-4
6. Riley Gagnon, 78.5-0-78.5-2
7. Ty Ellis, 77-0-77-1
8. Tanner Eno,74.5-0-74.5-0
© 2020 PBR Inc. All rights reserved.