Greatness in Greensboro!

The magnificent Chicken on a Chain!

As I reflect on the Greensboro PBR event that concluded this past Saturday night, my mind just keeps going back to Chicken on a Chain, and his final regular season out.  I am heart-broken that Chicken is being retired....I know, it's time.....for heaven's sake, he's 12 years old!  But I'm still heart-broken, and I know I'm not the only fan who is.

My very first PBR event was Worcester, MA in May 2009.  The short go included the likes of Bones, Code Blue, Big Tex, Apollo, Voodoo Child and Chicken on a Chain.  No wonder that I fell head over heels in love with the bulls!  So in a sense, for me, Chicken retiring is the end of an era.  All those great, great bulls are done bucking...and it's sad!

Chicken on a Chain posing for me in Las Vegas last year.  I tried to coax him close enough for a little scratch, but he was not in the mood!  Seeing Chicken in the pens with all the other bulls, made me realize just how large he really is!

Chicken on a Chain was ridden Friday night in the 15/15 Bucking Battle by Harve Stewart.  For 12 years old, Chicken looked great!  And Chicken will have one more out, at the Finals in Las Vegas later this month.  He will then be officially retired.  There may be as many tears as there are cheers for the mighty Chicken!

Since 2005, there have been 126 attempts on Chicken on a Chain, and he was ridden 33 times.  In his World Champion year of 2007, Chicken tallied a 94.44% buck off percentage.  His average mark from the judges was a 23.2 point score, and his average bull score was 46.18 points.  (Thanks to Probullstats.com for all the facts and figures!)  Chicken has faced World Champions Kody Lostroh, Mike Lee, Renato Nunes, Justin McBride and Cody Hart.  His career began in August of 2005 and will end October 2012.  By appearing in the Finals, Chicken will have the most trips to the World Finals of any bull.

Chicken on a Chain in Las Vegas 2011, ridden by JB Mauney

So, as one superstar retires, this bull fan looks to the outstanding bulls that surrounded Chicken Friday night.  In the 15/15 Bucking Battle, the bulls were victorious again by beating the cowboys 12-3.  Overall, there were 101 buck-offs to only 34 rides in the 15/15 Season.  Mulligan Man recorded his 18th straight buck-off, Quiet Riot 11 straight buck-offs, Shamoun 21 straight buck-offs, and High Steaks 13 straight buck-offs!  Impressive numbers, for sure.   Asteroid hipped himself coming out of the chute so his cowboy was given a reride, but Asteroid was breathtaking!  He was so high off the ground and his body was shaped like a backwards "C" in mid-air.  I just kept replaying the out because it was so stunning to watch!

Overall, it was a great event.  The bovine power was outstanding and with only 2 more regular season events, it will be exciting to see who accompanies Chicken on a Chain to Las Vegas!



Photographs by Susan Hanrahan