Birthday Bovines in Springfield

There is no better way to celebrate my birthday than going to a bull riding event.  So that's exactly what I did!  Except, this trip was a unexpected treat!  A couple weeks before the Springfield PBR, my friend Karen texts me, telling me she has an extra ticket, and asks if there is any way I could join her for the event?  Well, when the big, beautiful bovines are part of the equation, there's always a way!  I was able to work it all out, so on September 11, 2014 I boarded my plane and headed west to Springfield, Missouri for three days of the PBR!  Whoo hooo!!

Friday night was an ABBI Classic competition.  The 3-4 year old's always put on a good show!  SMOKEY WHITE DEVIL from Hebert Bucking Bulls got the show started by dumping Valdiron de Oliviera, 43.25 point bull score.

Missouri bull rider Brady Sims managed to ride TWIST OF FATE from C&G Rodeo, but was rewarded a reride for the 59 point(?) score.  It wasn't the best outing but did provide a dramatic dismount!  Unfortunately for Brady, he bucked off his reride bull, YOUR NEXT.

SOUTH FORK from J.A.R.S Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen dispensed Nathan Schaper and got himself a 41.25 point bull score.  Naturally, I enjoyed the snotitude and the victory lap!

BIG TIMBER from High View Cattle Co, LLC bucked off Zane Lambert and was awarded 41.25 points.  He put on quite a show following the buck off and had to be "escorted" out of the arena.

MARGY TIME from D&H Cattle Company was one of the bulls I was most excited to see in person.  He did NOT disappoint!  Douglas Duncan made a valiant attempt, but in the end the bull was victorious!  The judges gave Margy Time a 41.75 point bull score.  They must not have actually watched the ride.  The bull was spectacular!

JO JO from Owens/Lane was almost ridden by Markus Mariluch.  Jo Jo received a 42 point bull score....Marcus tore his biceps tendon in his riding arm.  It was a rough night on the cowboys.

Speaking of rough...check out Cody Nance's face-plant after coming off of HAPPY TRAX!  The Torres Brothers must have been happy with their bull, but not with his low score of 42.5 points.

Gage Gay rode YOGA from Currey Creek Bucking Bulls & Cattle Co. for 87.25 points.  But, it was the fun after the ride that kept me laughing!  Please notice the Dickies jerseys the bull fighters wore on Friday night.  These jerseys were in honor of the victims of 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks.  Well done, Dickies!

After winning Round 1, LJ Jenkins had a shot at the Bonus Bull and $5000.  PFI'S BOOTDADDY won the match by bucking off LJ.  The bull had a very strong out.

 Congratulations to D&H Cattle Co/Buck Cattle Co's BRUISER for taking the Springfield ABBI crown.  His bull score of 44.75 points was highest of Round 1, and he also went on to score 45.75 points, the highest, in Round 3.  Outstanding young bull!

My birthday started out with a trip to Bull Housing and KEEPIN' IT REAL was most appreciative of the back scratch.  In fact, he turned several times, so I didn't miss a spot! LOL!  Best present ever!!

ASTEROID was also happy to receive a back scratch.  He's so funny, because as I was trying to take his picture, he would curl up in the corner of the pen, waiting to be scratched. 

On the other hand, JARED ALLEN'S MAGIC TRAIN tried to hook me!  Oh the difference in personalities!  This is a rank young bull, and I am very excited to see how his career turns out!

I caught BUCK WILD peeking out at me.  From what I was told, he's usually charging people, so maybe he felt the love from Momma Sue (as my friends call me)!

First thing Saturday night, I checked in with the bulls.  JQH arena was a smaller arena, but a nice size for the event.  Good seats everywhere, but not a lot of extra room for bull pens.

LJ Jenkins got Round 2 off to a great start by riding BONO from Hadley Cattle Co for 86 points.  LJ was now 2-2 for the event.  Bono needed some help leaving the arena, much to my delight!

Douglas Duncan came up short in his attempt on RED DINGO from Currey Creek Bucking Bulls & Cattle Co.  Look closely at this picture, and notice the bulls back feet.  I'd say Douglas was lucky he didn't get stepped on!  Red Dingo was scored 42.25 points.

CASH YA OUT from Cymbaluk Cattle Company easily dumped Claudio Cristostomo and scored 42 points.  What a handsome bull he is!  Muscles and snot...and some big personality, too!

BUCK WILD from Silver Creek Pro Rodeo was just that...wild!  Brady Sims made a valiant attempt but this bull was just too much.  He was awarded 42 points for his wildness!

Guytin Tsosie made a great ride on SPOTTED VELVET from Marty Foutch/Brian Sweeney, for 87.5 points.  Spotted Velvet was scored 43 points.

According to the judges 39.75 point score, RAZORBUCK from BMC Bucking Bulls didn't have a great out.  But from where I was sitting, he was pretty spectacular in bucking off Fabiano Vieira.

SWEET THANG from TC Bucking Bulls easily dumped Guilherme Marchi, but evidently one judge didn't give him a score (sarcasim alert!)  because the website said Sweet Thang's bull score was 33.25 pts.  NOT at all sure how that number was recorded!

 We entered the building with much enthusiasm and excited anticipation on Sunday for Round 3 and the Championship Round.  Who would win?  Who would be high bull score?

MARGY TIME from D&H Cattle Co once again put on a show, this time bucking off Mike Lee, and being scored 44.25 points.  Both times Margy Time bucked, he kicked the overhead sign above the out gate, as he exited the arena.  Spectacular bull!

Stetson Lawrence rode THE PARROT from Rickey West Bucking Bulls for 85 points, with a 41.75 point bull score.  The Parrot did enjoy his time in the arena, and Safety Man, Mike White had his hands full with this bull!

Jordan Hupp had a quick out on SMOKEY WHITE DEVIL from Hebert Bucking Bulls.  Once again, the judges could only muster 39 points for the bull.  Evidently, they forgot their "happy pill"s Sunday!

BISON NATION from 5 Star Bucking Bulls had another great buck off Sunday.  Jason Malone came off of the bull early and Bison Nation received 42.5 points.

Loved this shot of Eduardo Aparecido on KUNG FU FIGHTER, from Hodges Bucking Bulls.  Eduardo made a nice ride for 85 points.  Kung Fu Fighter was scored 41.25 points.

During the break, we fans were treated to some Mutton Busting!  These little guys did a great job riding their muttons!

The Championship Round is set!  Quite honestly, I didn't expect too many rides!  Due to injuries, only 13 cowboys rode in the Championship Round.  RAVEN FLYER was bucked as the first reride bull, so the only bull that didn't go out was SOUTH PAW.  Too bad - he's a great bull!

JARED ALLEN'S AIR TIME got some air! WOW!!  This bull was difficult in the chute, and Joao did not get out on him quickly as he should have.  Air Time was way too much bull power!  44 points.

POUND THE ALARM from J.A.R.S Bucking Bulls/Gene Owen was scored 43.25 points for his dismissal of Eduardo Aparecido.  Loved the quick pose of this handsome bull!

MR. SHOWBIZ from D&H Cattle Co/Buck Cattle Co put on quite a show in bucking off Josh Faircloth.  I am still shaking my head at the low 40 point bull score.  This muscle-bound beast was incredible!

Talk about cutting a corner...wow!  DAKOTA STYLE'S HY TEST from Jared Allen's Pro Bull Team was rank! 44 points was his score for bucking off Chase Outlaw.

In a scary moment, DAKOTA STYLE'S HY TEST ran over Chase Outlaw.  This big bull was full of snotitude, for sure!

LJ Jenkins and JACK DANIEL'S AFTER PARTY from Circle T Ranch & Rodeo combined for the only score of the Championship Round 89.25 points.  LJ Jenkins was the only cowboy to ride multiple bulls for the event and went 3 for 4 to win the Springfield PBR event. 

I had a blast at this event.  The arena was close to packed, if not completely packed, all three days, and the crowd was vocal.  The bull fighters were incredible and made one spectacular save after another.  Unfortunately, there were several terrible wrecks and injuries.  Sometimes these wrecks can not be avoided...that's part of the sport.  The judges were stupidly low on bull scores.  I heard more people complaining about the bull scores than ever before.  I also have to say, there was a poor job done in the arena with getting bull scores to us fans.  I really didn't know most of the scores until I got home, sat down at the computer and studied the scores.  Shame, shame! 
The High Marked Bull of the Event was awarded to DAVID'S DREAM from Wolf Creek Cattle Co/Cantankerous, LLC, with a 45.25 point score.  Both his and Bruiser's owners will receive a set of spurs for their high scores.   Congratulations to LJ Jenkins on his win!  Overall, a great time indeed!



Photographs by Susan Hanrahan