In Canada, the majority of professional bull riding events take place in three provinces, primarily within a few hundred miles of one another.

Tonight the Top 30 money earners from the Canada Cup tour along with five top-ranked riders from the Built Ford Tough Series will be at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for the start of the PBR Canadian National Finals.

The three most favored contenders for the national title are Zane Lambert, Aaron Roy and Tyler Thomson.

However, what separates PBR Canada events from those of other organizations is the draw of world-class riders like Mike Lee, Robson Palermo, Ryan McConnel, Travis Briscoe and McKennon Wimberly.

Other international competitors with BFTS experience include Cody Campbell, Beau Hill, Jared Farley, Rocky McDonald, Harve Stewart, Ned Cross, Sevi Torturo, Mark Lopes and Cody Ford, who have all had some success at the northern PBR events.

Hill, who is from Montana and finished ranked 32nd in the world standings, is the defending Canadian National Champion. Roy, the only Canadian to be a mainstay on the BFTS, won the title in 2008. Tyler Pankewitz and Scott Schiffner won it in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Whoever wins the 2010 title will earn approximately a third of the money it took for the last qualifier to make it into the Top 40 for last month’s 2010 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.

For several of this weekend’s competitors, the Canadian Finals will be a first opportunity to earn their way back to Las Vegas next October.

The opening round of the Canadian National Finals begins tonight, with the final two rounds taking place Saturday night. For the latest updates from the Canadian Finals, log onto www.pbrcanada.com.

— by Keith Ryan Cartwright