The third edition of the Ty Pozzobon Invitational PBR, slated for this Saturday at the Nicola Valley Rodeo Grounds in Collettville, promises to be bigger and better than ever. Which is saying something. In its first two years of existence, the event drew record crowds of close to 3,000 wildly enthusiastic rodeo fans on each occasion.
“We’ve got some great cowboys and some awesome stock coming again this year,” said Merritt’s own Ty Pozzobon. The 23-year-old native of the Nicola Valley continues to shine on the professional bull riding circuit — racking up wins and thrilling audiences.
The 2015 lineup once again features a who’s who of bull riding stars, including three cowboys (Aaaron Roy, Tanner Byrne, Dakota Louis) from this year’s Built Ford Tough Series, the world’s top bull riding circuit, and seven of the top 15 competitors in the CPRA, including current points leader Tyler Thomson from Black Diamond, Alta.
Thomson (2008) is just one of four former Canadian champions scheduled to perform at this year’s Ty Pozzobon Invitational, along with Tanner Girletz (2006), Chad Besplug (2011, 2013) and Scott Schiffner (2012).
Schiffner, a three-time Worlds finalist, is also a 12-time competitor and two-time winner at the Calgary Stampede, the World’s richest rodeo.
“Over a half dozen of these cowboys have been to the World Finals in Las Vegas,” Pozzobon said.
The competition will descend upon Merritt from far and wide with all four Western provinces represented, five Americans in the line-up, and even a pair of cowboys from Down Under in attendance — Kiwi Adam Jamison and Aussie Josh Birks.
There’ll be a new champion of the Ty Pozzobon Invitational this year as two-time winner Chance Outlaw from Hamburg, Arkansas is unable to attend and go for the three-peat.
The list of bulls for this year’s event is an impressive one. Topping the mountain of beef is Prescott Bull’s Proper Ripped, who took Outlaw to victory in Merritt two years ago with a 92-point ride.
“He’s a real handful, and only be ridden three times in his last 14 outings,” Pozzobon said. “We have him as our bounty bull, which is a new feature this year. The winner of the short-go (who will take home over $6,000) will have a chance to try and ride Proper Ripped and earn an additional $2,500. He just has to stay on for eight seconds to get the extra money. It should be pretty exciting.”
Other notable bulls scheduled to make an appearance include Wild Hogs’ Rockaholic (90 for Byrne in Prince Albert, Sask. two weeks ago) and Prescott’s Smoke Show (86 for Zane Lambert in Nipawin, Sask. and 88.5 for Besplug in Lethbridge, Alta. this year).
In addition to the heart-stoppin’, mud-flippin’ bull riding action in the ring, there’s plenty of other exciting entertainment to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
“We’ve got the pyrotechnics to kick things off again,” Pozzobon said, “as well as a beer garden a 50/50 draw and no fewer than four bull fighters. The mutton bustin’ with the youngsters was so popular last year that it’s back, and we’re adding a boys’ steer riding at one of the intermissions, too.
“The giant jumbotron is also back, so everybody can see instant replays of all the rides,” Pozzobon added, “and of course, we’re all set for another huge after-party at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, put on by the Merritt Centennials hockey club.”
The Ty Pozzobon Invitational organizing committee has again arranged for free shuttle service from the Travelodge and arena to the rodeo grounds before the event, and free shuttle service after the show to both the arena and the Travelodge.
This year’s bull riding format will once again see all the riders compete once each in the preliminaries (known as the long-go). The top 10 scorers will then move onto a short-go (championship round) for a share of the over $15,000 in prize money.
Once again, Pozzobon comes into his own Invitational in good form and looking for a win. Since recovering from a concussion sustained last fall, and having surgery in the off-season for a sports hernia, he’s successfully ridden 11 of his last 15 bulls – a pretty good record in a sport where a 50% average is considered exceptional.
Tickets for this year’s Ty Pozzobon Invitational are still on sale locally at Purity Feed, and will also be available at the gate.
