The 12th annual Jace Harty Memorial PBR Bull Riding, the richest PBR event in Canada, is contributing $7,000 back to community-minded projects in the spirit of a central Alberta bull rider who died much too young.
Harty was a passionate bull rider, friend, family member, and a cowboy who always had time for others. “For those who didn’t know Jace he was a friend you just hadn’t met yet,” said announcer Brett Gardiner.
In his life Hardy was a giver and each year, at the Ponoka Stampede Grounds, scores of the world’s best bull riders, rodeo fans and those who share the same love of life gather to celebrate the sport and enrich the community.
The first donation was $2,000, given to the Ponoka Stampede Rodeo Challenge and the second was $5,000, to go toward the Ponoka Elementary School’s new playground.
In his quest for a chunk of the $40,000 in added prize money, Jace Harty Memorial PBR Bull Riding defending champion Chase Outlaw rode his way back to the top for the coveted championship buckle.
The 22-year-old Arkansas cowboy made the PBR his fourth win on Canadian soil, giving him a 100 per cent championship rate, as it was only his fourth event overall in Canada.
Taking home the buckle and bronze, as well as adding his reverence to the Harty legacy was the perfect birthday gift for the bull rider. “Ain’t no better feeling than being on top. That’s the best place to be in the world, have everybody else chasing you.”
Outlaw finished the long go with a score of 88, after riding the full eight seconds atop Two Bit Bucking Bulls’ French connection. The short go saw him further his lead in the average with a 91-point ride.
“(It) had a little bit of power, felt like money,” said Outlaw, referring to his final ride.
Outlaw started riding calves at age four, and then progressed to junior bulls and finally PBR events. For him the draw to the sport has always been knowing he can dominate the bull, “knowing that I did my job.
Although Outlaw never had the chance to meet Harty he can relate to fervor the older cowboy held for bull riding and life. “To be able to wear the buckle with his name on it is just an honour.”