Nick Tetz Takes Home Meaningful Win in Coronation

AIRDRIE, Alta. – The PBR and western events world lost a pillar of the community last year.

Unexpectedly, Lori Eno, a long-time secretary, and more importantly, the matriarch of the Eno Bucking Bulls family, passed away. In her honour, her husband Darin, along with their children Taylor and Tanner, organized the Lori Eno Memorial Bull Riding held on her birthday in the family's hometown of Coronation, Alberta on August 7.

And fittingly, Canada's No. 1-ranked bull rider, and one of the many competitors fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time with the Eno family took home the win.

Nick Tetz captured the inaugural event title, and for the two-time PBR Canada Champion, the victory meant far more than points or prize money.

"I would trade one of my Canadian Championship buckles for this one. It's just about what it means and who she was and getting to honour her in that way. It was huge," Tetz said.

For everyone on site at the Lori Eno Memorial Bull Riding, the night was about her. Tetz didn't hold back when speaking about the woman she was, and the role she played in the lives of so many young bull riders.

"She loved everyone and treated everyone the exact same. It didn't matter if you were me or Tanner, she wanted you to do good. She was happy for every single win, every single ride, every time you just left the arena healthy," he explained.

"I think there's a lot of us who are riding bulls and a lot of us who maybe aren't riding bulls anymore who all felt that motherly love from her. She was like a second mom. It didn't matter how you did, she always greeted you with a hug. And I know when the one time when I got knocked out bad, she called my mom and let her know what happened.

"I know my mom always felt better when she knew that Lori would be at the event, because sometimes I wasn't the greatest at getting back to my mom on how I did or how it went. But she always knew that if Lori was there, she'd always text her and tell her how it went and basically make sure that I was okay."

The night ran smoothly from start to finish and even featured the first 90-point ride of the season in Canada, with Tetz riding Foley Bucking Bulls' Posty to mark the milestone score.

"I think it was awesome. I think it was an unreal bull riding that they put on. I feel like the way that they went about it, it was, Lori never wanted any of the accolades or the spotlight on her," Tetz said.

"She was always happiest just being a mom and grandma and getting to watch the event or being a secretary and just being a part of it. I don't think she would have loved all the attention she got at the beginning, but when it's someone like that, you got to give them the attention and show them that love and appreciation. I think they did it perfectly."

For Tetz, the 2026 season has already been a career year. He has maintained a healthy lead in the points standings with a torrid pace through the first two-thirds of the campaign, leading No. 2 Gilmar Santana and No. 3 Dakota Buttar by 384.33 and 636.33 points, respectively.

That surge has put Tetz in position to chase a record-tying third PBR Canada Championship this November.

The first real hurdle, however, came a few weeks ago in Kelowna, British Columbia, when Tetz separated his shoulder after coming off his championship round bull at the sold-out Cup Series event.

"The bull kind of got me lined out and I felt him bump me and I thought, 'Oh, he's just going to run right over top of me,' and it happens lots of times and most of the time it's never anything too bad, but he ended up stepping on me just right on my shoulder and he ended up separating my AC joint," Tetz said.

Tetz admits he worked hard to rush back to competition so he could be at the Lori Eno Memorial Bull Riding.

The night before, in Tofield, Alberta, Tetz was setting up in the chutes when his bull reared up and put significant pressure on the injured shoulder. He turned out his bull, once again prioritizing the following evening's event in Coronation.

With the lead he holds, Tetz says these short-term injury moments are a little easier to absorb. But bull riding is still bull riding, and a competitor has to work hard to get back to riding shape no matter where they sit in the standings.

Tetz has been working closely with Acumen Performance in Edmonton to keep himself sharp and moving in the right direction.

"Acumen's really good about realizing that this is what we do for a living and if we're not getting on bulls, we're not getting paid," he said. "But they also understand too that if you're showing up there and you're not a 100%, you're not able to do it, you're probably just going to do more damage to yourself than sitting at home and just trying to get it healed up.

"I've been going in there twice a week, basically getting it worked on, trying to get the range of motion back in it and really, as long as I can have the range of motion in it, it's not too bad."

One rider continuing to apply pressure is Brazil's Santana, who has found a remarkable level of consistency in 2026, placing at nearly every event he attends, if not winning them outright. Santana took home the win in Tofield on August 6, cutting into Tetz's lead slightly.

Tetz says Santana, along with his travelling partner and friend Francisco Costa, have become increasingly comfortable in Canada after a couple years of experience here. That familiarity has helped them better understand the bulls, the travel, and even the language.

"I think Gilmar is showing a lot of maturity in his riding. I know when they first came over, they were very one-dimensional. Very good at riding bulls one direction and a certain kind of bull," Tetz said. "I think now just being up here a lot more, they are starting to learn a little bit of English. I think it helps them be a little bit more comfortable, even just getting up and down the road too.

"You're not worried about going in and trying to get lunch or dinner or something like that. Them getting a little bit more comfortable, I think, has helped their bull riding a lot more."

With the stretch run of the season approaching, Tetz remains firmly in control of the No. 1 rank in the PBR Canada national standings.

But in Coronation, the night was about more than a race for a title, it was about honouring Lori Eno, celebrating the community she helped build, and riding for a buckle that Tetz says will always mean something different.