Jarod Parsonage brought the heat in the season-opening event of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Canada Cup Series.
The Maple Creek, Sask. native was one of four riders to go a perfect two-for-two at the Peavey Mart Centrium Saturday, winning the PBR Cross Country Canada Classic and surging to the No. 1 rank in the race for the 2023 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $50,000 bonus.
Parsonage was unmatched in Round 1, posting the top score when he covered Smoke Bomb (Vold Rodeo) for 86 points.
With the first pick in the championship round bull draft, Parsonage architected a rematch with Hard Not To Get (Vold Rodeo). Parsonage rode him to an 88.5 en route to his event win at the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals.
He was able to replicate that success, putting up an 89-point ride for the victory.
His victory earned him 58 national points. He now won two consecutive PBR Canada events and is amid a six-out ride streak.
Runner-up Coy Robbins of Camrose and third-place contender Jake Gardner of Fort St. John, B.C. delivered the first 90-point rides of the season.
Robbins elected to go head-to-head with 2 Guns (Outlaw Buckers Rodeo Corp.) in the final round. His monstrous 90.5 points won the championship round. The 90-point ride is the first of Robbins’ PBR career and his sixth consecutive score in PBR Canada competition.
As one of 10 riders to deliver a score in Round 1, Gardner advanced to the final round fifth courtesy of his 82.5-point effort atop Look At This Dude (Two Bit Bucking Bulls).
He chose a familiar opponent in two-time PBR Canada Bull of the Year Happy Camper (Two Bit Bucking Bulls) in the final. Gardner had attempted the bull four times prior, earning a score just once.
In near picture-perfect form in Red Deer, Gardner and Happy Camper danced in harmony en route to the whistle as the “Prince of the Peace Country” was scored 90.5 points, the first 90-point ride of the new season.
The score is now the high-marked ride of Gardner’s career and his first 90-point score in PBR competition.