Prince Albert’s Tanner Byrne to work as one of three Cowboy Protection Bullfighters at the PBR event in Lethbridge later this month. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

Bull Riding

P.A. bullfighter back in action as PBR returns later this month

Jul 14, 2020 | 3:00 PM

After a 138-day hiatus from competition in Canada, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) will return to action later this month with back-to-back events in Lethbridge on July 23. The outings will feature a well known Prince Albert talent, and while things will be different – given the COVID restrictions – one of the events will see the return of spectators.

The elite Monster Energy Tour double header will get underway at 1 p.m. local time with the PBR Cooper Tires Invitational, followed by the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational at 7 p.m.

Prince Albert’s Tanner Byrne, a former star bull rider, will work as one of three Cowboy Protection Bullfighters at the event.

“It’s great, PBR’s main focus is on health and safety and to get us back to work, that’s how we all make a living… we’re super grateful PBR is taking steps in the proper manner,” he told paNOW from his home just south fo the city.

For Byrne and everyone involved in the sport, it will have been a long four months since their last action.

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

1h ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

9h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

Dec 14, 2024

“This is probably the most time in my life I’ve not been on the arena floor [but] I have an arena and chutes and stuff set up at my house and I’ve had some guys come out and practice bulls to hone my skills to be ready for when things come back,” he explained.

And Byrne figured the calibre of performance will be strong because everyone has had the forced rest.

“I think I’m more healthy than I’ve ever been; no bumps and bruises,” he said. “So, I think the sport of bull riding as a whole is going to be quite a bit better because there’s lot of guys who ride through injury and try to keep riding all the time and this break gave them a chance to actually heal up.”

The PBR Cooper Tires Invitational will be closed to the public, available only on TSN and the league’s OTT channel RidePass. The second event, the PBR Built Ford Tough Invitational, will mark the first fan-attended professional sporting event in Canada since the onset of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The competition will be presented to fans via a suspended 23-foot big screen in the parking lot area of the Enmax Centre. Fans can therefore watch all the action from the comfort of their own vehicles.

Throughout both events, all riders will be competing for a cash purse, in addition to crucial points toward both the Canadian national and world standings.

The guidelines and protocols in place for fans at the PBR Canada Monster Energy Tour LIVE: Drive-In Spectacular will include socially distanced parking stalls, restricted movement for fans, and mobile ticketing to replace traditional printed tickets.

Additionally, all riders, stock contractors and staff functioning within the ENMAX Centre for both events have pledged to adhere to a comprehensive set of health and safety protocols including pre-travel screening for COVD-19, and social distancing throughout the event, with all riders, stock contractors and staff maintaining six-foot distance, except when crucial to the safe performance of bull riding.

All riders, stock contractors and staff will also be required to wear a mask with the exception of when it would inhibit athletic performance.

–

With files from Glenn Hicks

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbert