Merritt professional bull rider Ty Pozzobon made his return to competition from injury an auspicious one, winning twice on the weekend.
Pozzobon, 23, placed first at the Spring Classic Pro Rodeo in Camrose, Alta. on Friday night, going the full eight seconds on a bull named 2805 Memphis for a winning score of 85.5 points.
Less than 24 hours later, at the Spring Breakup Rodeo in Dawson Creek, Pozzobon rode TBB’s Wrangler Extreme to 87 points and a three-way tie for first with fellow Canadian Zane Lambert and New Zealand’s Adam Jamison.
Pozzobon picked up cheques totaling almost $3,400 for his two winning performances — not bad for a cowboy coming back from a significant knee injury, a sports hernia operation and a serious wreck that resulted in a potentially career-ending concussion.
“It was a tough winter,” Pozzobon said on Tuesday from his home near Spius Creek. “For awhile there, I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to compete again. This weekend felt so good. I’m glad to be back on the road.”
Pozzobon was particularly pleased with Friday’s performance.
“I rode a couple of practice bulls during the week leading up to Camrose, and things didn’t go that well. Fortunately, everything came together Friday night.”
Pozzobon said Friday’s win was also the first time he’s won despite being in the lead-off position.
“Going first, you don’t expect your score to hold up,” he said. “I guess it was a pretty good ride.”
Prior to Saturday’s competition, Pozzobon didn’t think that he had drawn a potential winner for his ride.
“That bull surprised me. He bucked real good.”
Pozzobon admitted that he was pretty nervous going into the weekend given all that has happened to him over the past 12 months. The knee injury occurred last July at the Calgary Stampede. The hernia had been an issue for a couple of years. The major concussion came about in November at the PBR Canadian Finals in Saskatoon.
Pozzobon, a competitor on the premier Built Ford Tough tour for the past two years, hasn’t ruled out returning to the BFTS this year.
“Right now, I’m just going to go to rodeos and let it all fall into place. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high.”
Pozzobon is definitely excited about hosting and competing in his own Ty Pozzobon Bull Riding Invitational, scheduled for May 30 in Merritt.
The third annual event promises to be bigger and better than ever. It will showcase some of the world’s top bull riders, stock and bull fighters.