Bucking in Billings!

Before I get going on my Billings, Montana adventure, I'd like to take a moment and say a great, big THANK YOU to all the followers of my blog.  In the past few days, the hits on my blog went over 30,000!  I never thought this little blog would generate that kind of interest.  So again, THANK YOU!  Here's to the future!

Billings, yes, another early morning plane flight left the crowded Northeast and took this bull fan to Big Sky country and the great state of Montana.  I was very excited to see the bulls in Billings, as I'd heard from several people that this was a great event and a nice arena.  True on both counts!  So here come the photos and the highlights of the trip....well, they weren't all highlights....let's just say, it's a good thing the BS flag stayed home!  But, one of the judges was in earshot...and he got a few ear-fulls!

An early morning visit to Bull Housing started the PBR experience off right!  Got to visit with gang of young bulls from Five Star Bucking Bulls, along with Let Er Rip, Pucker Up, Jumanji and Mississippi Stud.  A huge Thank you to Paula & Bubba for the visit!!  Also got to see Chad Berger's new bull pen, including being charged a few times by Fire & Smoke.  On the other end of the spectrum, I hand fed hay to the great Smackdown.  Fun bulls with all kinds of personalities! 

Friday night, the introductions included the Champ himself, Bushwacker!  He still hasn't gotten used to all the fuss.  He made his usual turn and waited for the gate to open.  He was ready to buck.....enough with all the formal stuff!

A wonderful moment during intermission, was the presentation of a beautiful one-of-a-kind belt buckle commemorating Bushwacker's final season.  Here Brandon Bates along with PBR exec Jay Dougherty (l) Julio Moreno, Bushwacker's owner and the Montana Silversmith's President (r) during the presentation.

I snapped this photo from the arena big screen.  Here is the buckle Julio received.  Bushwacker has meant so much to this sport, and I, for one, am happy Julio is receiving special recognition for all his hard work and investment.  Bushwacker will be missed!

Bird Bucking Bulls WAR PARTY didn't receive the greatest score, 39.5 points, but he did put on a good show!  Guilherme Marchi was part of that show, and thankfully, ok.

Celling Bioscience's JUKEBOX HERO had to be turned out because rider Pistol Robinson was DQ'd.  Had some real problems over this DQ because the bull was fussing a bit in the chute as the clock neared zero, and no extra time was given to Pistol.  Had at least 20 seconds been added, and Pistol had a good shot at getting out and didn't, then the DQ would have been justified.  I really felt like this was a "scape goat" moment because of all the complaining about Brazilian riders being DQ'd.  I've said it before and I'll say it again...Get In, tie your rope and get out!  If you're too long, and the bull is standing good, then a DQ is the right choice...and I DON'T care what country the rider is from!  This incident produced lots of angry fans and cowboys!

Brady Sims on his knees going one way and BROWN SUGAR on his knees going the other way!  Brown Sugar was a handful, and Brady bucked off. 43 points for the bull.

Harve Stewart rides PRINCE ALBERT for 88 points and tied with Guytin Tsosie for the Round 1 win.

 

 

Following Round 1, the Billings 15/15 Bucking Battle took place.  Sean Willingham got the round started with a 90 point ride on POUND THE ALARM from J.A.R.S Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen.  It was a great ride by Sean and a great out by the bull!  I managed to capture Sean's dismount, which was as exciting as the ride!

NEW HOLLAND POWER STAR didn't give Stormy Wing much of a chance, and left him in a dangerous position.  44 points for Power Star!

SOUTH PAW not only bucked off Mike Lee, earning 44.25 points, but he also received my "Best Bull Portrait" for the weekend!  Handsome boy!

And, BUSHWACKER jumps over the cowboy!  How does this muscle bound, 1700 pound bull jump this high? WOW!  It was total control, and LJ was off in just over 3 seconds.  Bushwacker was, once again, spectacular!  I near about lost my mind when I learned his score was only 44.25 points.  Unbelievable!!  I truly don't understand why the judges scored him so low!  Were they not paying attention???  Once again, I throw my hands up in the air, in complete disgust!

Before the round on Saturday night, I was able to take a peek at the back pens, which are all outside of the arena.  This arena does not have the ability to have the pens inside, and that big back door must be kept open for the bulls to go in and out during the round.  Imagine how fun it was for the cowboys on Saturday night when it was snowing and below 20 degrees!  Yikes!

As we walked around the arena Saturday night before the performance, I got a peek at the computer used by TV announcers Craig Hummer and Ty Murray in the Skybox.

Cody Nance got things started Saturday night with a 78.75 point ride on HIGH STEAKS.  This bull bucked like crazy but lost his footing.  It wasn't the biggest score, but it was another score for Cody.

BUCK DYNASTY was not happy to have Renato Nunes aboard.  I don't think he would have been happy to have anybody aboard!  Buck Dynasty used strong side to side motion with his front end and Renato lost his rope. 43.5 points for the bull.

Markus Mariluch had a great ride on BUCK WILD for 86.5 points.  Buck Wild is so much fun to watch as he jumps so high in the air with all four feet off the ground!  It seems like no effort for him to be jumping so high!  43 points for Buck Wild.

Five Star Rodeo Company's JUMANJI easily dispensed the #3 rider in the world JR Vieira.  Jumanji received 43.5 points and an invitation to buck again on Sunday, along with his pen mate PUCKER UP!  Thrilled for the Five Star boys!

Montana native and crowd favorite Matt Triplett won Round 3 on Sunday with an awesome ride on GUNS & DONUTS, for 89 points.  The crowd went wild when Matt moved in to first place overall.  The bull score was 43.75 points. 

Markus Mariluch bucked off of STEAMER, but Steamer was sure fun to photograph.  This handsome black & white bull was big and powerful!

The Championship Round is set.  With the first pick, Matt Triplett selected SHEPHERD HILLS STOCKMAN, but it was not meant to be for Matt, as the bull threw an unexpected big move that got Matt off quickly.  The bulls only allowed 4 rides in the Championship round.

WHITE LIE earned the High Bull Score of the Event award with his 45.5 points, and buck off of JW Harris.  The announcers were telling the crowd how JW had ridden this bulls a few weeks ago for 90+ points.  Guess White Lie was not happy hearing that and he dumped JW and hard!  Great bull!

With the second pick in the draft, Cody Nance selected the great SMACKDOWN.  The two combined for 88.5 points and the event win in Billings.  As with Bushwacker, I feel privileged to see Smackdown bucking in his final year.  He will also be greatly missed as he has lots of fans, and with his unusual build, made for some fun watching over the last six years.

Had to share a photo from the last bulls I "visited" with...Bison bulls enjoying a warm spring day in Yellowstone National Park.  I was beyond excited to see hundreds, if not thousands of Bison in the park and it was a great way to end my Billings Bull adventure!

Had such a great time visiting a part of the country I'd never been to before, and seeing bulls of all shapes and sizes!  I was also happy to see Chad Berger's newest set of bulls bucking...Cowtown Slinger, Ropin Dreams, Fire & Smoke, Modified Clyde, and Apollo Stripes buck again.  Expecting great things from these bulls going forward.  As Smackdown retires at the end of the year, this next generation of bulls is ready to step up!

Looking forward to the next event in Des Moines, Iowa after the Easter weekend off.  Looking forward to seeing the bulls bring it again!



Photographs by Susan Hanrahan