Bull riding entertains Lloyd

A little snow didn’t stop the fans from packing the Lloyd Ex for some bull riding.

The PBR Winter Classic graced Lloydminster on Nov. 23, bringing some high-level bull riding to town.

Fans took in an entertaining night of competition before the pen was emptied and the cabaret band began the festivities.

The event is a big draw for the city and helps the Lloyd Ex as well.

“It’s a Lloyd Ex self-produced event and part of fundraising efforts for our year-round operations. It also brings a need for hotel space, you know, all those bull riders have to stay somewhere, the judges, the stock contractors. It’s not just about the bull riders but there’s the ranchers that raise these bulls so they bring their families to town,” Jackie Tomayer, general manager at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association.

PBR has always been a draw for the city.

“PBR is a great draw, you’ll have people drive four or five, six hours to come to a PBR event,” said Tomayer.

Competitors come in from all over the world, even as far as Australia.

“We have 20 to 25 of the top bull riders in western Canada, Brazil, United States and Mexico,” she said.

Tyler Craig from Crossfield, Alta., won the event going a perfect across both rounds. Craig swept both rounds of competition taking the first with an 86.5 point ride and the second with an 87 point ride. 

Jake Gardner and Griffin Koester rounded out the top three at second and third respectively. With the win Craig is now in first in the Canadian National standings, 16.5 points ahead of Gardner.

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