CTV News Edmonton has reported:

Six teams of bull riders are competing for shares of a $25,000 purse at the Canadian Country Expo, which is presenting a bull riding and bullfighting showcase described as a first of its kind. Each team in the BYOB Bull Battle has two riders, one professional and one amateur. The event brings together two western sports disciplines, according to the expo.

The format gives amateur riders a chance to learn from experienced competitors, including professionals they may hope to face in the future. “It’s going to give that kind of perfect mesh between who is the now and the next generation,” said Dom St. Amand, an announcer at the expo. “It gives that first lead-in for some of these competitors that may be looking at joining the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Canada at the end of the regular season.”

The programme also includes a freestyle bullfighting showcase. Three bullfighters, including four-time and reigning world champion Chance Moorman, will try to avoid a bull for one minute. The expo said in a news release that the animals are not harmed in this form of bullfighting, and that competitors are judged only on their ability to perform acrobatic stunts close to the bull without being hit.

The bull events are taking place alongside the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Canadian Youth Rodeo Championship. Nearly $50,000 in prizes and scholarships is available through the youth events. St. Amand said training young athletes and bringing them into the sport is important to PBR.

“If we can start some of these young kids off right and have them ride with their mentors in the sport, yeah, who knows what we can create in the sport of bull riding here in Canada,” St. Amand said. The Canadian Finals Rodeo is scheduled to wrap up Saturday, while the Youth Rodeo Championship ends Sunday.