Des Moines PBR

Let's talk bull riding!  I just filled my coffee cup up and I'm ready to go!  There were some spectacular rides and wrecks in Des Moines, Iowa this past weekend.  Billy Robinson broke his jaw, when the bull lunged forward in the chute and slammed Billy against the top rail.  Justin Granger went head to head with Whiskey Bent, and Justin's face didn't fare so well.  He sustained periorbital fractures and will be having surgery.  Hoping and praying both cowboys will heal quickly, but, this serves as a reminder as to just how powerful, strong and dangerous these bulls are!

Round 1 contained several debut bulls.  With many new bulls, one never knows what to expect.  The outcome was similar to a pen of experienced bulls....not many rides....in fact, only 9 rides occurred in round 1.  Yay bulls!  The top bull score of the round went to WHISKEY BENT, from Jerry Hargis and Gene Owen, who scored 44.5 points for his effort.

A shout out to my friends at K-C Bucking Bulls and WHO DAT, who easily handled Silvano Alves in Round 1.  Who Dat was scored 42.5 points.  He stood great in the chutes and was not affected when Alves took too long to get out.

BANTY ROOSTER from New Frontier Rodeo bucked hard, kicked and had a nice move in his 3.53 second buck off of Tanner Byrne.  Somehow the judges only scored him a 41.75 points.  Out came the BS flag!
KARAOKE from Elite Bucking Bulls and Mike White had a great out, bucking off Marco Eguchi, and being rewarded 43.75 points.
ROCK & ROLL easily dismissed Valdiron de Oliviera, bucking hard and receiving a bull score of 42.75 points.
One funny moment, not bull related, was Kody Lostroh forgetting his gear bag at home.  I guess a new baby and lack of sleep will do that!  But, borrowed equipment worked well for Kody as he finished second in the round with an 86.75 point score aboard SPITBALL.

The Round 1 winner went to Zane Lambert, who was given a reride on PRINCE ALBERT.  He is such a good, solid bucking bull and is the money bull right now.  A great ride by Zane and a great performance by the bull.

One thing I noticed watching on Saturday night, was tape over the chute clock.  I, naturally was curious, as I have been in favor of the chute clock.  Sunday, during the TV broadcast, JW Hart explained that the "new" chute clock is no longer in force, but back to the judge's discretion.  However, there is still a time limit and the rider can still be DQ'd.  JW said the PBR changed this rule mid-stream because it wasn't going right.  Guys were calling for bulls when they were not ready or the bull was not standing right, and this sport is too dangerous as it is, so the rider must be ready.  So...back to square one.  BS flag flew twice on this call!  I do have to say that I did appreciate Bull Fighter, Shorty Gorham, complaining about guys fussing in the chutes with their chaps or the tail of their bull ropes not staying where they want it to.  As soon as the bull moves, it's not going to stay in place anyway! So...get in, wrap and get out!
Round 2 went exactly as round 1 did...9 rides.  The round was won by Harve Stewart, who rode ALTERNATOR for 86 points, and Guytin Tsosie, who rode BULL ARROW for 86 points. 
One bull who really didn't have a good day was BIG TEX ROCKS.  He faded out in to the arena and the judges scored him 21.75 points.  That's one of the lowest scores I've seen.  This is such a great bull, and he's consistently been in the Championship round, so I hope he comes back strong!
Jared Allen's H4WW HY TEST was spectacular in round 2.  He recorded a 2.96 second rank buck off and had the highest bull score of the round, 44.5 points.

Due to injuries, only 14 cowboys rode in the Championship Round, most of them qualifying on only one score. 

RANGO bucked hard, with big kick!  He bucked Fabiano Vieira off in just over 6 seconds.  This was a fight because both bull and rider worked hard.  Rango received 44 points.

I took this picture in Albuquerque, NM in March, of Ryan Dirteater going up against I'M A GANGSTER TOO from Jeff Robinson/TNT Bucking Bulls.  In Albuquerque, the bull won the match-up.  However, in Des Moines, Ryan got his revenge by winning the Championship round with an 89 point ride on I'm a Gangster Too.  Gangster's score 43.75 points.

FIRE & SMOKE from Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger, Clay Struve and Julie Rosen was the High Marked Bull of the Event with a 46.5 point score.  He bucked Cody Nance off in 3.25 seconds.  This bull is exciting to watch and I may just have a new bull crush going! ;)

Kasey Hayes broke MISSISSIPPI HIPPY's buck off streak on Sunday with an 88.5 point ride.  It was the first time Hippy was ridden on the Built Ford Tough Series.  :(
ROCK RIVER RED from Dakota Rodeo, Chad Berger, J.R. Scott and Dallas Schott had an impressive buck off of Harve Stewart.  The bull used a big belly roll and tight corner to get Harve off in 3.31 seconds, 45.5 point bull score.  Chad Berger and his team have a great new set of bulls and Chad stated that he wants that "Stock Contractor of the Year" award back.   Having 6 bulls in the Championship Round is a good start in getting it back!

I'll close this weeks review with a quote from JW Hart, as Silvano Alves was taking way tooooo loooong in the chute....again....on Altercation.  This bull can be hard to get out on, and his owner Kenny McElroy has worked hard with him to improve chute behavior.  Altercation was standing like a champ.  Silvano had several attempts to get out on him.  Silvano did not get out on him and the judges gave Silvano a reride.  JW Hart said, "Silvano likes 'em standing square so you can pet on 'em."  I almost fell off my couch laughing!  I love JW Hart's honesty!!!  But he is absolutely right!  Altercation was as good as ever and got DQ'd.. It doesn't affect Silvano...it affects the bull and his owners.  Why is this allowed to continue???  How about the time, effort and money it costs the stock contractor who cares for and hauls a great bull, only to have the out wasted by a rider who consistently soaks bulls?  If anyone has an answer....please let me know.

So...on to the next event in Colorado Springs.  I saw a post on Twitter that ASTEROID will be bucking in the 15/15 Bucking Battle.  So excited to see the Champ again.  It's been too long.




photographs by Susan Hanrahan