Tanner Byrne is making the transition from bull rider to bullfighter and making history in the process.

The legendary rider from Prince Albert will be the first rider to also fight bulls at a PBR Canada Monster Energy Finals event Friday and Saturday at SaskTel Centre.

Byrne made the decision while announcing he is retiring as a rider at the end of this season and it wasn’t a snap decision, he is simply following the family tradition.

His dad was the first bullfighter to ever step into the role at the National Finals in Las Vegas and his brother Jesse was the first ever to fight bulls at the PBR World Finals. Byrne pointed out his older brother and cousin are also experienced at protecting riders from raging bulls after getting thrown. Byrne called himself the family oddball for becoming a rider.

He said it’s thrilling and an honor to make history so close to home and in an arena he has enjoyed as a competitor for many years.

Two Saskatchewan riders are in a tight battle for the national championship.

Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek leads Kindersley’s Dakota Buttar by 34.49 points. Parsonage said with 250 points going to the winners of each of the four rounds and 1,250 points awarded to the overall weekend winner the two riders are virtually tied for the lead.

Parsonage stressed the road to victory is simple, staying on the bull in all four rounds saying the competition among the 20 riders is incredibly close.

All riders will be in rounds one and two on Friday and Saturday’s third round, with the top ten advancing to Saturday’s championship round.

There is $17,500 up for grabs for this weekend’s winner and a $50,000 bonus to the 2019 overall PBR Canada Champion.

The gap is even closer for bull of the year.

Homegrown has a 0.4 point edge over Happy Camper who is trying to become the first-ever two-time PBR Canada bull of the year.

Action begins both nights at 7:30.