Night four of the Ponoka Stampede, Saturday, June 28, the Wild West PBR Ponoka, was full of excitement and thrills with top-notch talent, the rankest bulls and showmanship.
The bull riders of the 89th annual Ponoka Stampede were introduced in style, with fire, smoke and a light show that brought the crowd's anticipation to the max.
Next came the introduction of the Ponoka Stampede bullfighters Ty Prescott, Brett Monea and Tanner Byrne - the unsung heroes of rodeo that are the centre of this year's theme: a salute to bullfighters.
This is Monea's 12th year as a Ponoka Stampede bullfighter, with over 13 years at the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede as well.
Byrne is the son of Ryan Byrne, a hall of fame-inducted bull fighter. This is his third Ponoka Stampede. He's also been at the PBR for 10 or more years and has fought bulls at the CFR a few times too.
Prescott started in the Ponoka arena.
"He was probably the last boy steer riding champion of the former century," said rodeo announcer Les McIntyre of Prescott in his introduction of the bullfighters on media day June 23, adding Prescott has been with the Ponoka Stampede for about 12 years.
"Brett says ... we've got people's lives in our hands and we take that very seriously. So this week, we are certanily going to salute, and keep mindful of our bullfighters in our sport of rodeo and the PBR that will be featured here on Saturday night."
Fans flooded into the arena for a closer look at the action as each cowboy took his chance at glory and victory, hoping to hang on to that braided manilla rope for eight seconds and the top score of the night.
In an attempt at repeating the viral video from last year, the crowd was led in a rendition of We Will Rock You using the light from their phones.
Wacey Schalla remains in first place in the bull riding, with no one besting his 86.25-point ride on Day One, June 25, as of yet.
Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek, Sask., had the only qualified ride of the night on June 28, posting an 83-point ride.
Find all you need to know about the Ponoka Stampede at Ponoka News.
