Go West, Rank Bulls!

After the Iron Cowboy in Dallas, Texas, the PBR headed west to Phoenix, Arizona.  Boy, was I jealous!  The bulls were in the desert and I wasn't!  Love me some cactus, desert mountains and bucking bulls.  Since I could not be there in person, I had to settle for one night of TV coverage.  Unfortunately, events on the west coast are too late for this east coast girl!

I truly enjoyed watching Rounds 2+3 from Phoenix, but they were not without drama - good and bad.  Congratulations to Guilherme Marchi for his 500th scored ride on the Built Ford Tough Series. An amazing accomplishment!  Congratulations to Tanner Byrne, Bull fighter Jesse Byrne's little brother, for finishing in second place in Phoenix.  Enjoyed seeing and hearing Jesse's encouragement and happiness over Tanner's success.  Sweet moments indeed!

SHEPHERD HILLS STOCKMAN, from Wolf Creek Cattle, Shepherd Hills Cutlery & Tom Luthy, helped Matt Triplett win Round 2 with an 88.25 point score (bull score of 43.75 pts).

For anyone who knows me, knows I've complained, screamed, thrown the BS flag and even swore at riders who take too long in the chutes.  I am so sick of the excuses and hearing the bull isn't standing quite right or he won't turn his head just right or it's Saturday and I had waffles for breakfast or the bull is laying down or whatever!  I hate it when the commentators, crowd, whoever blames the bull for fussing in the chute when he's been in there too long.  Having said that, and bull safety being my primary concern, I was thrilled that commentator Justin McBride mentioned several times during the broadcast, about how dangerous it is for the rider and the bull being too long in the chute.  Justin also mentioned that the longer the bull is in the chute, with the rope tied around him, the more strength is taken away from the bull.  So, I must applaud the judge who DQ'd Silvano Alves for taking too darn long in the chute, and then trying to re wrap his bull rope when the bull started moving around.  Alves was in the chute so long he could have had a cappuccino and a biscotti, for heaven's sake!!!  And, it's about time too!  Alves is famous for this and should have been called on it many times.  I have nothing against Alves personally...and I don't care what nationality the rider is...get in, wrap your rope and go!  Best for the bull...best for the rider!

DAVID'S DREAM was left for last in the Championship Round, and no wonder.  He's unridden in 2014, and easily bucked off Doug Duncan.  Bull score 44.75 points.

MR. FEIGER, from Julio Moreno, might seem a bit familiar, as he's a half brother to BUSHWACKER, both sired by REINDEER DIPPIN'.  While his bull score of 37.25 points didn't reflect the rankness and athletic ability of this bull, he bucked so hard and went completely veritcal, that he almost flipped over.  But in coming down, his back feet hit the shark cage and scared the living daylights out of everyone...especially those in the shark cage!  Honestly, this took a few years off my life because I was so scared Mr. Feiger would hurt himself.  He seemed fine as he bucked and kicked his way out of the arena.  But...WOW! can't wait to see more of him!

RANGO from Jeff Robinson was also a highlight in the Championship Round, bucking off Mike Lee and tallying a 45 point bull score.

A TV segment, done by Jeff Robinson, was informative and most welcome by this bull lover.  Jeff talked about how he, the guys who work for him and a PBR judge all check on the bulls, to see how they load on the truck, get off the truck and how they look in the arena.  Each bull is checked tip to tail by a bull man supplied by the PBR, at bull housing, loading and unloading.  His job is to make sure the bulls are sound - horn to tip.  Jeff stopped by RANGO's pen and mentioned that this bull is his favorite on the truck right now.  Jeff also said he likes to check on Rango to see if he's fighting with his neighbor's and feeling good, to make sure he's ready for the Championship Round.

Congratulations to MAGIC TRAIN from Jared Allen's Pro Bull Team for the High Bull Score of the event with 45.75 points.  Jared Allen is putting together an impressive bull pen, and I am excited to see Magic Train and his buddies again soon!

From Phoenix, the bulls headed northwest to Tacoma, Washington. 

I was surprised at the low bull scores from Round 1.  Not having watched the round myself, I can't really comment, other than, I counted up the number of bull scores that were 40 points or below, and there were nine.  So either the judges drank their "sour juice" or the bull pen (and this pains me to say) was just average.

JUMANJI from Five Star Rodeo Company tallied the high bull score of Round 1 with a 44.25 point score.  His pen mate PUCKER UP was second highest with a 43.25 point score.  These two bulls made their debut in Tacoma, and I hope we see lots more from them in the future.  Photo by Paula Saurer, and used with permission.

The TV coverage began with an interview with Chad Berger, Stock Contractor and one of the owners of the great SMACKDOWN.  Chad talked about what a great bull Smackdown is and how the bull seems to know that this is the last time he'll be bucking in the Pacific Northwest.  In fact, that theme surfaced several times during the broadcast.  I'm not trying to start anything here, but it did get me wondering about how much longer Smackdown will be bucking?  Anybody else get that feeling?

A lot of fuss is being made over the second DQ of the weekend, this time Valdiron de Oliviera was DQ'd for taking too long in the chutes.  The judge felt he had ample time to get out on the bull and that the bull was standing good enough.  Valdiron has always been one of the slower riders to get out of the chutes, so I'm totally ok with this call.  It was even mentioned that 3x PBR World Champ Adriano Moraes was at the event, and he agreed with the call.

Again, the bull scores were average in Rounds 2 and 3.  Six bulls were scored 40 points or below in the second round, and one bull "The Businessman" was scored a 26.5 points.  Naturally, we didn't see that out on TV, but...wow!  26.5???  One bull that really impressed, was a debut bull named RED DINGO.  He had good rhythm, spin and kick.  He had one of the higher scores of round 2 with a 43.5 points.

A shout out to the great BUCKEY, from Wentz Bucking Bulls, who made his 2014 debut.  Although it was not his best trip, this fan was sure happy to see Buckey again, and some of his offspring!

BUCK WILD was the first bull chosen in the Championship Round draft.  And he did not disappoint!  This bull is wild, in and out of the chutes...and is sure FUN to watch!  An uncharacteristically low score of 37 was all the judges could muster, but seriously, shouldn't difficulty be added for bull scores besides kick and spin?  If it were, Buck Wild would have scored a 50!

NEW HOLLAND POWER STAR had a great out and helped Cody Nance to the event win.  Together, he and Cody combined for a 89.75 point score.

The high bull score of the event was 44.5 points, and four bulls hit that mark: PERCOLATOR, FIRE ROCK, ROCK RIVER RED and MAJOR IMPACT.  It was great to see the bulls from the Pacific Northwest, as they don't get to as many PBR events as some others.

Lastly, I'd like to share an update on MICK E MOUSE. MICK broke a bone in his hip at the Iron Cowboy event two weeks ago.  In a Facebook conversation, MICK's owner, Marlene Henry shared this: "He is doing great!  Can't even tell that he ever hurt himself.  He is bouncing around like crazy.  He is supposed to be still and quiet.  He is in a small pen but he does not care.  They [the Veterinarian] said keep him still and quiet.  I said, 'sure, no problem'.  Really!?!"
Happy to hear this great news about Mick E Mouse!  Hope we will see him back, stronger than ever later this year!




Unless noted, photographs by Susan Hanrahan