Merritt bull rider Ty Pozzobon enjoyed another big pay day on the weekend at the Built Ford Tough Series Bass Pro Sport Chute Out in Phoenix, Ariz.
In round one of the two-day competition, the 22-year-old Pozzobon rode Woody to a score of 85.5, good for fifth place overall in a field of 30 cowboys.
On Sunday, in round two, Pozzobon finished second on board Hustle Up with an 87.75 score.
Pozzobon’s combined total of 173.25 points put him in first place in the standings going into the afternoon championship round which involved only the top 10 bull riders.
Unfotunately, Pozzobon didn’t draw the best of bulls for the final and got bucked off.
“The bull came out of the chute funny, and it just kind of threw Ty’s rhythm off,” said Pozzobon’s mom Leanne, who watched the action on television.
Despite a no-score in the championship round, Pozzobon still managed to finish fifth overall on the weekend and earn $7,375 in winnings.
First-place finisher at the Bass pro Sport Chute Out was last year’s world champion, J.B. Mauney from Mooresville, North Carolina.
Second place went to Pozzobon’s good friend and fellow Canadian Tanner Bryne from Prince Albert, Sask. Bryne was competing in his very first BFTS event.
The fifth-place finish in Phoenix has moved Pozzobon up to 18th spot in the BFTS world standings with 1,935.37 points and total earnings of over $28,000.
Earlier in the week, the globe-trotting Pozzobon traveled to Lethbridge, Alta. for a PBR Canada event.
Competing at the Enmax Centre, the Nicola Valley cowboy finished 5th in the aggregate with a two-ride score of 168 points. His best placing was a 4th in the short go with a score of 86.5 on Morning Breath.
Next up for Pozzo-bon is the PBR Passport Invitational just across the line in Tacoma, Wash. this weekend.
When not on the road, Pozzobon is based out of the Dallas area in Texas. He and a number of other PBR bull riders work out at the training facility run by the Dallas Cowboys football team.
The second annual Ty Pozzobon Invitational professional bull riding event in Merritt is scheduled for Saturday, May 31. Watch the Merritt Herald for complete details.
