There was only one bull rider that managed to stay on the back of two bulls at the PBR competition in Nipawin.
Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek scored 84 points in the first round and 87.5 points in the second, thus winning the May 12 event at Centennial Arena.
“I was just excited, definitely happy with the performance,” he said. “I took advantage of drawing a good bull in the short round and I did my job and rode him. It’s a good feeling when you do your job. That’s the name of the game: ride as many bulls as you can and let the chips fall.”
Parsonage was excited to win in his home province.
“The fans up here are second to none. They fill it up here. It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s a really good feeling to come home and win in Saskatchewan.”
Sharla Salmond, one of the organizers of the event, was pleased to see someone from nearby win the competition.
“That’s very exciting for us, to have that champion from Saskatchewan.”
Salmond said Nipawin Events Inc. brings the RONA PBR competition to Nipawin each year because it’s an unique event that brings the community out. The closest PBR outside of the Northeast is held in Prince Albert.
“I think, for our fifth year, we’ve had the biggest event yet in Nipawin and we’re very happy about that.”
Parsonage said he comes from a rodeo family.
“My parents rodeoed and I just kind of started riding steers and the chips just kept falling in place, kept riding bulls.”
For him, the sport isn’t so much about competition as it is about improving each time against the bull.
“It’s competing with me and the bull and trying to be the best that I can every single time I’m on the back of one and stay on as many bulls as possible,” he said. “It’s not going against other guys or anything, it’s just trying to be better.”
Salmond said planning for the event begins in January.
“It takes lots of time and effort of all of the committee to talk to sponsors and set up the event,” she said. “The last week, for sure, we spend hours at the rink, setting up the dirt and the chutes and making sure the sponsor signs are all ready to go.”
It takes about 75 volunteers during the event to make sure it all goes smoothly.
The PBR season is just beginning. The finals will be in Saskatoon and the Global cup will be in Edmonton in November. As of May 15, Parsonage is number six in the Canadian national standings.
“A guy always wants to qualify at the top of the standings, so being consistent in riding as many bulls as you can is the secret. If a guy can be consistent and do his job, the chips will fall in place and hopefully be number one at the end of the year.”
