Allentown, PA PBR Event

 The brand new PPL Center in Allentown, PA hosted the final regular season PBR event this past weekend.  The PPL Center was almost completely filled on Saturday night, the crowd was excited and loud.  What a great event it was!

Started the event off with a Fan Club Chute Tour.  We saw behind the scenes, had bull rider Jordan Hupp explain about equipment, but the absolute highlight was visiting the bulls!

Being that this was the last regular season event, there were lots of new bulls bucking.  UP NORTH from Jared Allen's Pro Bull Team got things started with a 42.5 point bull score and a zero for Marco Eguchi

Jason Malone rode SPITBALL from New Frontier Rodeo for 82 points, but had a nasty dismount!  Spitball received 41.5 points.

Part way thru the round, we were given the opportunity to go up on the chutes.  That gave me a whole new perspective for pictures, in front and behind the scenes.  Here Josh Faircloth puts his bull rope on LITTLE BIT WICKED from Cymbaluk Cattle Company

Sean Willingham rides CIRCLE CITY from Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Rockin S Ranch for 85.5 points.  42 point bull score.

Chase Outlaw had the Round 1 winning ride aboard STAY THIRSTY from Cornwell Bucking Bulls/Buckin S Ranch for 89.5 points (43.5 pt bull score).  Chase had to borrow equipment Friday night, as his didn't arrive in time.

Being on top of the chutes also gave me the opportunity to peek at the judges score sheet.  My husband told me I had to behave and not scold the judge for low bull scores.  I'm not sure I was completely successful in that! (hehehe)

Adorable Bull of the Event goes to MENTAL REVENGE from Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve.  I mean, c'mon! Look at that face!  He bucked off Brady Sims in Rd 1 and was scored 42.5 points.  It earned him a trip in the Championship Round on Saturday night, where he was scored 44 points.  New bull crush?  I think so!  ;)

Kody Lostroh had an awesome ride aboard PAIN & SUFFERING!  Unfortunately for Kody, his landing produced just that....pain, suffering and a broken ankle.  Ride score 86 pts, bull score 41.75 pts.

Bull fighter Lyndell Runyon was fantastic!  He got chased down several times Friday night.  Here, SPOTTED JUICE from Mike Miller wanted someone to "play" with.

A major league B-I-G "BS flag" was thrown for the dirt in Allentown.  Cement chunks, rocks of all sizes, glass, sticks and roots were found.  I marched up to Cody Lambert and told him this was unacceptable for the bull's safety and well being!

 Saturday night was "Tough Enough to wear Pink" night in Allentown.  Loved seeing Flint, the bull fighters, many cowboys and stock contractors in pink shirts!  The bulls didn't seem to care what color anyone was wearing...they were large and in charge!

Bonner Bolton rode TAZ from David Rodeo Ranch for 82.25 pts.  This was the first of many interesting dismounts Saturday night.

Lachlan Richardson bucked off MILLER TIME from Soggy Hill Cattle Co. Bull score 41.5 points

NEON NIGHTMARE from Soggy Hill Cattle Co. showed a lot of snotitude after being rode by JW Harris.  Guess he wasn't too happy about that!

XD SPORTS DOUBLE AGENT from Soggy Hill Cattle Co bucked off Stetson Lawrence.  42.25 point bull score.  I wasn't familiar with Soggy Hill Cattle Co but they have a nice pen of bulls.  Hope we see more of them in the future.

Jason Malone came off of BILLY JACK from K-C Bucking Bulls/Spark-Lin Acres/Josie McElroy Bucking Bulls.  42.25 points was Billy Jack's score.

The interesting dismounts continued with Billy Robinson.  Jared Allen's Pro Bull Team's THUMBS UP easily dumped Billy and received 42.25 points for his efforts.

Mike Lee Had a tough weekend and SNITCH, from Chad Berger, didn't help.  Snitch was only scored 38.5 points but that was better than Mike's zero.

JB Mauney also had a tough weekend, and this hang up didn't help at all!  DRACULA from Josie McElroy Bucking Bulls was tough! 43.25 point bull score was one of the highest of the Round 2.  The bull fighters did an amazing job helping JB, AND all weekend long!  These guys are incredible!

Josh Faircloth on MR. SMOOTH coming at me!  The bull from K-C Bucking Bulls/Blythe Cattle Co. dumped Josh but was only scored 37.5 points.  I believe booing was involved at that moment!

Jordan Hupp rode the retiring ROCK & ROLL from K-C Bucking Bulls/Blythe Cattle Co. for 82 points.  I wish the arena announcers would have mentioned Rock & Roll's retirement.  The bull and his owners deserved the recognition!  This has been a great bull for many years, and I hope he has a long, "happy" retirement with his ladies!  Thanks for the memories ROCK & ROLL!

Spark-Lin Acres/K-C Bucking Bulls/Blythe Cattle Co's gentle giant MISSISSIPPI HIPPY is one LARGE bull!  He bucked off Cody Nance and was scored 44.75 points.  A little fact here...Guilherme Marchi had 14th pick in the draft and said Hippy was too much bull for him.  Shame on Marchi for admitting that.  Cody Nance stepped up and said he was happy to have Hippy.  Now that's the way to cowboy up!

WRECK IT RALPH from Jeff Robinson wrecked Stetson Lawrence's hope of a scored ride. 44.75 bull score.

Sobs, tears....my bull crush KING LOPEZ, who is also retiring this year, had his last regular season out, in the Championship Round.  Lopez was ridden by Eduardo Aparecido for 86.5 points.  Lopez bucked great and I was really disappointed in his 42.5 pt score.  I truly will miss seeing this bull buck!  I know he will be the King at K-C Bucking Bull's ranch, and hopefully we'll see lots of little "Prince's" soon!  Sobs, tears......

Bonner Bolton almost covered CALIFORNIA KID from Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/B&M Bucking Bulls.  This handsome bull was awarded 43.25 points.

Fabiano Vieira rode WHO DAT from K-C for 85.5 points and the win in Allentown.  WHO DAT is another K-C bull who is being retired this year.  He has been a great bull for a long time, and will be missed!  Again, I hope we see lots of little "Dats" in the future!

PBR exec Sean Gleason, event winner Fabiano Vieira, Cooper Tires exec Chris Pantani and stock contractor Chad Berger at the end of the event.  Chad received the award for High Bull Score of the Event for FLINT's 45 point bull score in the Championship Round.

Other than the bad dirt in Allentown, this was an awesome event!  I hope the PBR comes back next year.  The arena was almost sold out Saturday night...so I hope the PBR knows, we Northeastern fans love us some bull riding!!!

This blog is dedicated to my Mother-in-Law, Barbara, who passed away Saturday night, after a long illness.  She was interested in and supportive of my writing and published magazine articles.  She often asked how her "Grand-Bulls" were, and I was happy to report on Spook and the boys.  This blog was written with a heavy heart.  Barbara will be missed.  May she rest in peace.




Photographs by Susan Hanrahan