A look in from Wednesday night's professional bull riding action in North Battleford. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Battlefords buckin' bulls

North Battleford’s PBR Classic sees record turnout

Jul 28, 2022 | 3:00 PM

It was an electric atmosphere Wednesday night at the Access Communications Centre, with a record turnout for the seventh annual McDonald’s Colby Cave Memorial PBR Classic.

More than 1,500 fans from across the region packed the arena for this year’s event to watch the biggest names in Canadian bull riding. Camrose, Alta.’s Coy Robbins took home first place on the night, just edging out Eatonia product and 2022 Calgary Stampede champion, Dakota Buttar in total points.

Robbins made the eight-second threshold in each of his two rides on the night, scoring an 83.5 in the first round, and adding a 79.5 in the second, to clinch the victory.

Buttar finished second with scores of 77.5 and 74.5, while Edson, Alberta’s Michael Ostashek took third, scoring a 79 in his first ride and 72 in the second. Robbins, Buttar and Ostashek were the lone three riders to stay on the bull the full eight-second count in both rounds.

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Robbins said heading into the final round neck-and-neck with Buttar served as an additional spark heading down the stretch.

“It definitely fueled the fire,” Robbins said with a smile. “Dakota Buttar is a guy I’ve looked up to, and when I was steer riding in the professional association he was always the guy I wanted helping me on, so it’s real neat to be in that situation where we can go head-to-head.”

Following the win, Robbins presented his winning belt buckle to the Cave family, including Colby’s parents, Jennifer and Allan Cave and sister, Taylor. He said it was something special to have the family on hand for the presentation, making for a night he’ll cherish.

“It’s always special to get a win when there’s some meaning behind it event-wise, and with Colby Cave attached to the name of this event that makes it really special,” Robbins said. “To get to meet his mom and dad and shake their hands and give them a hug, it definitely is an event I won’t forget.”

This marked Robbins’ third year competing at the North Battleford Classic, where he had been knocking on the door in recent years with a pair of runner-up finishes as a rookie in 2017, and then again in 2019, before breaking through atop the podium this time.

The victory is Robbins’ third PBR win this year, marking a tremendous start to the summer for the fifth-year pro, who also took top prize at The Rose City Invitational in his hometown of Camrose, and on Day 2 of the Cody Snyder Charity Bull Bustin event earlier this month at the Calgary Stampede.

Picking up a total of 32 points towards his overall PBR Canada standings, with the win, Robbins moves from 15^th to ninth overall in the national standings with 107.5 points, now 85.5 back of first-place, Brock Radford.

North Battleford’s Wyatt Fennig was also among the riders of interest Wednesday night, making his debut appearance in his hometown competing within the professional riding contingent, after winning the junior event the last two years it was held in 2018 and 2019.

Taking on the bull of the night – Ted of Wild Hoggs Bucking Bulls – his second time out of the gate, Fennig said it was an opportunity he relishes to be able to compete with one of the top animals in the sport, in front of the home crowd.

“It was awesome, it gives a guy a boost for sure, and when you look in the stands and see those familiar faces, you know everyone’s rooting for you,” Fennig said. “When I saw the draw I was so pumped because I knew if I rode him [for a full count] I’d be in the money for sure and it would’ve blown the roof off this place, so I tried my hardest and that’s all a guy can do.”

The full PBR Canada national standings can be found here.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1