2013 PBR World Finals, Part 3

In this concluding blog about the PBR World Finals, I pick up at Friday night, Round 3.  I just watched Round 3 again, having recorded it on TV while I was gone.  It's amazing to me to remember everything from being there in the arena, yet on TV it all seems so different.  Why? I'm not sure.  But one thing that was just as crazy on TV as it was in the arena that Friday night was the fact that Kody Lostroh had one of the wildest outs I've ever seen!  Kody's bull, HOU'S BACK, started fussing in the chute just as Kody was nodding his head.  The bull got turned around and as he turned back in to the chute, his horn caught the slide gate of the chute where PANDA TRACKS was waiting.  Seeing his gate door open, Panda Tracks comes bursting out of the chute right behind Hou's Back with Kody.  One bull went one way...the other bull went the other way...the bull fighters started running crazy...the crowd gasped and started screaming...and we all tried to figure out what just happened!  Thank God, on so many levels, that Kody, the bulls, the bull fighters, Flint and all the other folks in the arena were not hurt!  This could have gone terribly wrong!  Thankfully, both bulls trotted out of the arena together and the back pen guys loaded Panda Tracks back in to the chute where he was supposed to be!

Unfortunately for Kody, his reride on PROLINE POWER didn't go so well either.  The bull sent Kody scrambling for the stage and he actually sat in the plant for a spell, scratching his head.  I wasn't sure if he was hurt or just wondering how this round of bull riding went so terribly wrong for him?

Back Seat Buckers 2013 Champion bull, PAPA LOUIE.  On Friday night the top 6 young bulls competing for the Back Seat Buckers top prize all bucked during the intermission.  It was exciting and wild watching these young bulls bucking and kicking like crazy, all trying to get that dummy off their backs.

Much to the delight of PAPA LOUIE'S owners, he brought home the top score and the big $100,000 check!  Congratulations to his owners, and to the success of the Back Seat Buckers program!

Friday night also brought the retirement ceremony of Australian bull rider Brendan Clark. 

Saturday had me back at the Fan Zone, checking in on the mini bulls.  Here POWERSTROKE rests in the warm sunshine before bucking.

Mini bull, DURAMAX, grabbed a quick nap before the final round of competition.

Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Arena was Patriotic night, and it was wonderful to see the American Flag displayed in and around the arena. 

Jeff Robinson was presented with his 4th consecutive "Stock Contractor of the Year" award.

The saddest retirement ceremony was for the great bulls CARRILLO CARTEL (pictured here), Canadian bull SLASH, and one of my all time favorites, CHARLIE BULLWARE.  Carrillo Cartel posted 96 career attempts, 58 of which occurred on the BFTS, with 20 qualified rides. His average PBR score was 22.18 points (out of 25).  Carrillo Cartel was ridden twice during the Finals, first by Stormy Wing for 91.25 points and the round win Friday night.  Ryan Dirteater also covered Cartel fro 89 points in round 5.

Canadian bull, SLASH, bucked mostly in PBR Canada events, but did record 8 BFTS outs, ridden once.  His average PBR mark was 22.26 points, out of a possible 25.  Overall, he had 59 career outs.  Slash's last out was bucking off Renato Nunes Saturday night in Vegas, posting a bull score of 42.5 points.

The "Fine and Divine Bovine" himself, CHARLIE BULLWARE.  Charlie holds a very special place in my heart, as he was a major inspiration for SNOTITUDE and is featured in my key photo.  According to ProBullStats.com Charlie Bullware had 126 career attempts with only 15 qualified rides!  On the elite BFTS, he posted 60 outs with 13 rides.  Charlie had 11 round winning outs and 4 Rider round wins.  His PBR average score was 21.86 and his PRCA average was 22.03 points.  Charlie's last out in Las Vegas was against retiring cowboy Luke Snyder.  Charlie bucked Luke off and pranced out of the arena.  He was given a 42.25 point score, which in my opinion, was low.  Charlie looked as young and peppy as ever!

These great bucking bulls will be missed.  Hopefully in the future, we will see some sons of these bulls who will carry on the name and the legacy.

An emotional Luke Snyder during his retirement interview with Matt West.  Luke has been a wonderful ambassador for the PBR as well as one of the nicest cowboys I've met.  I wish Luke and His wife much happiness as they start the next chapter in their lives, post bull riding.

18 year old Wyatt Crowder accepts the award for his bull THE ROCKER, who won the ABBI Classic Bull title for 2013.  WOW! 18 years old, a champion bull and a nice big fat $200,000 check!  An awesome way to start a career for Wyatt!  Congratulations on an outstanding young bull!

I love BLONDE BOMBER and his big floppy ears!  Here Bomber bucks off Ty Pozzobon and is awarded 43 points.

As Round 5 progressed, the excitement in the Thomas & Mack arena grew.  You could feel the electricity in the air!  I could hardly sit still, as the list of the Top 15 bulls were introduced.  These last 15 rides would give us our 2013 World Champion Rider and Bull.  The list of bulls was impressive!

JACK DANIEL'S AFTER PARTY sent Renato Nunes flying!  Outstanding trip by the bull for 44.25 points!

Of the bulls in the hunt for the World Champion Bucking Bull, BUSHWACKER reigned supreme, and took home his second World Championship title.  Yes, I absolutely think the best bull won!  I don't however agree with all the judges scores...but then again, I usually never do.  I thought SHEPHERD HILLS TESTED, RANGO, MICK E MOUSE, SMACKDOWN and ASTEROID were all spectacular and deserved a few extra points!

2013 World Champion Bull Rider, JB Mauney!  Congratulations JB, well deserved!

Julio Moreno accepts the award for his superstar bull, BUSHWCKER.  What a thrill for Julio, his family, handler Kent Cox and all of Bushwacker's fans!

So the week ended, much like it began.   I was standing, looking out my window, watching the last few bulls being sorted and loaded to begin the trip home.

What a fantastic week!  I was thrilled beyond what I hoped for, emotionally drained from the major excitement of the epic battles between bulls and cowboys.  It was awesome to make new friends and reconnect with long-time friends.  I enjoyed every minute!  If you've never been to Las Vegas for the PBR World Finals, put it on your short list of things to do...you won't be disappointed!

Congratulations to all the winners - human and bovine!

Looking forward to 2014 already!




All photographs property of and by Susan Hanrahan