NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
Nick Tetz from Calgary celebrates after scoring a 90-point ride at the PBR Canada Cup Series Medicine Hat Classic at Co-op Place Saturday.
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
In front of more than 4,000 elated fans, Nick Tetz from Calgary fought and held on for a 90-point ride, winning the Professional Bull Riders Canada Cup Series’ Medicine Hat Classic and taking first rank heading into the 2024 Canadian Championship.
The enthusiastic crowd was the largest attended event the PBR has held in Medicine Hat in four years, featuring the country’s top bull riders alongside some of the top international riders on the back’s of some of the best bucking bulls in North America.
“It was a great atmosphere, the bull riding was amazing. Some of the best bull rides we’ve watched the entire season.” said Jason Davidson, general manager. “It was everything the PBR is about, bringing the best buckin’ bulls versus the best bull riders in the world, literally in the world.”
“It’s always a true blessing just to have people come watch us do what we love,” said Tetz.
The duel-round PBR Medicine Hat Classic scored the 24 riders on two rides, and only nine riders were able to score a full eight-second ride.
Saturday’s victory at Co-op Place marked Tetz’s 11th event win of the season and puts him in the lead of the PBR Canada ranks in the Cup Series with a Ride Score of 176.
“Any win always feels good, especially when it’s at the end of the year,” said Tetz, who will battle rider Coy Robbins, hot on his spur with a Ride Score of 171.5, during the upcoming national finals in Edmonton.
“We got two more events and you know it’s going to come down to the wire with me and Coy. I look forward to battling it out with him like we’ve been doing the entire year.”
Robbins’ top ride of two scored 87.5 points.
Tetz rode ‘Langham Kid’ during the championship round and remained almost perfect for eight seconds, scoring the season’s first 90-point ride to the enlightenment of the crowd.
“It did not feel smooth, I felt behind the whole time,” said Tetz. “I was just, keep trying to throw everything I had at him. I was honestly just playing catch-up the whole time.
“I never felt comfortable. I was off my rope and off to the side and just kept trying to gas it, waiting on that whistle. He’s so big and strong and everything you could want in a buckin’ bull.”
The next stop on the PBR Canada Cup Series is in Saskatoon this weekend. The national finals go Nov. 8-9 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
