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Tanner Byrne announced his retirement from bull riding earlier this year, and will make history with his new gig next month. (Jeff D'Andrea /paNOW Staff)
history in the making

Tanner Byrne set for PBR milestone next month

Oct 23, 2019 | 12:01 PM

It’s a whole new rodeo for Prince Albert’s bull riding great Tanner Byrne.

He’ll make history at next month’s PBR Monster Energy Canadian Finals in Saskatoon as the first athlete to have ever ridden and fought bulls at the season-culminating event.

Byrne announced the end to a career in the chute earlier this year and became a bull fighter.

In a media release, the PBR announced Byrne would be one of three bullfighters set to work the 14th edition of the league’s national finals on Nov. 22 to 23 at the SaskTel Centre.

Byrne competed at the PBR Canada Finals six times, and he has been pursuing a career in cowboy protection after retiring from riding in July 2019.

He hails from one of bullfighting’s most prolific families, led by patriarch Ryan, who qualified for 14 consecutive Canadian Finals Rodeos and in 1987 became the first Canadian to ever cowboy protect at the National Finals Rodeo.

Additionally, Tanner’s brother, Jesse, has been a bullfighter for the elite PBR Unleash The Beast after making his debut at the 2008 PBR World Finals.

panews@jpbg.ca

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