By meadowlakeNOW

M.L.’s Cody Coverchuk wins hometown bull riding title

Jun 9, 2017 | 1:25 PM

The crowd at the Meadow Lake Arena erupted in cheers while watching hometown bull rider Cody Coverchuk.

By the end of the evening, the rafters were rumbling as he took the top spot at Mayhem in Meadow Lake festivities as a part of Stampede Week on Thursday, June 8.

After getting bucked off in the first round, he came back strong in the second round, staying on the steer for around 15 seconds. This qualified him for the championship round, where he was the only rider to stay on for the qualifying eight seconds.

Coverchuk was second place out of six overall heading into the championship set, led only by Pierceland’s Brian Hervey, who opted out of the final round due to an injury. Brian Hervey sat at 84.5.

Rounding out the top six was Brazil’s Marcos Gloria at 83.9, Everett Fairlie of Warren, Manitoba with 82 points, Mitchell Louden of Australia with 79.5, and Kyle Primeau of Gwynne, Alberta also with 79.5.  After Brian Hervey bowed out, Jerrett Nash of Eckville, Alberta was bumped up to the championship round with 77.5 points.

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Coverchuk scored 83.5 in the second round, and 84 points in the championship round, and was the only one to score during that final round.

In an interview after the festivities, he said he was feeling good, despite being a little sore.

“When I got on that first bull and was bucked off, that kind of made me a little angry,” he said. “So, that got my motor running a little bit more for the next two. [I] got the job done.”

Coverchuk competed in professional bull riding for five years so far, and was involved in the stampede world since the age of 12. The 23-year-old said he had a rough start participating in his hometown but said it was positive to take the top spot in front of those who supported him over the years.

“I feel good about winning at home,” Coverchuk said. “I had a rough start here, I got knocked out the very first year I was here but come back and won the rodeo, but I’ve never won the bull riding, so feels good to win that.” 

He said he feels thankful for the many people who have stood behind him over the years, including his friends and family.

“I’ve been doing this half my life, and when I got started, I had my parents drive me around everywhere. My parents and my sponsors and everyone in Meadow, I appreciate it all,” he said.

Coverchuk’s father Bruce passed away late last year. He dedicated his performance to his dad.

“Tried to ride tonight in memory of my old man,” he said.

Yesterday’s win puts Coverchuk’s national point total up another 400 points for the year. He is headed now to the Professional Bull Riders Monster Energy Tour in Ottawa.

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath