BULL-TIMORE

Happy New Year!  Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and snot-filled 2015!

What a way to start off the new year...bulls, bulls, bulls!  The PBR kicked off the new season with a two day event in Baltimore, Maryland.  Hubby and I decided to give ourselves bull riding for Christmas so we enjoyed our "gift" in Baltimore.  It was great to walk in to the arena, smell the bulls, see friends from near and far, and feel that excitement as the fireworks exploded during the opening.   So, please, enjoy this photo recap of the first event of 2015.

The event started off with the first DQ of the season.  The judges felt Gage Gay took too much time in the chute, and had opportunities to get out.  Even though Gage was disqualified, they still bucked the bull, KING BUCK, out of the chute.  A bull score of 31.75 points was listed on the PBR results page.  That is completely unfair to the bull, as Gage was not trying to ride him once disqualified.  I hope this does not hurt King Buck's chances at future events.

It was great to see Ben Jones back at this BFTS event....until he came off WRECK IT RALPH, and got stomped on.  You could hear the crowd groan, along with Ben, but thankfully, Ben got up and walked out.  I was so happy to see him, on the back of the chutes about 15 minutes later, laughing and joking around.  Ben is one tough cowboy!  Bull score 43.25 points. 

(1 of 3)  Renato Nunes rode his first bull of the season, SUPERFREAK, for 84 points, bull score 41.75 pts.

(2 of 3)  Renato is known for his celebratory backflips when he rides his bull.  The crowd was getting crazy in anticipation...

(3 of 3)  Renato mid-backflip...and he nailed the landing!  Overall, Renato went 2-3 on the weekend.

Josh Faircloth didn't have good luck on THE CRIPPLER from Mike Miller.  Josh came down early and got his boot caught in his bull rope.  The bull fighters moved in quickly and was able to get Josh free.  Bull score 42.25 points.

Stormy Wing tried his hardest, but was unable to hang on for 8 seconds.   MADE RIGHT from Mike Miller scored 41.75 points.

I thought this match up would be the round winning ride, but fell just short.  JW Harris rode ALTERNATOR from K-C Bucking Bulls for 86.75 points, with a bull score of 42.5 points.

This is Guilherme Marchi riding RMEF BIG BULL from Jeff Robinson.  Guilherme received 85.75 points, bull score 42.5 pts.  But I have to say, I fell in love with this big boy!  BIG BULL is huge, and with those winter curls, he was about as cute as they come...if I can use the word cute?

Mike Lee had the round winning ride aboard PECOS BILL for 87.75 points.  Pecos Bill was scored 43.5 points.  Mike took off for his celebratory lap around the arena, but almost ran in to the bull.  Thank goodness Frank Newsome stepped up and distracted Pecos Bill!

JB Mauney had a rough buck off.  RANGA from Jeff Robinson/B&M Bucking Bulls was rank.  He tallied the high bull score of Round 1 with 44 points.  JB's hand was stuck in his rope and got spun around a few times.  Thankfully, JB seemed fine walking out of the arena.

BUCK DYNASTY from BMC Bucking Bulls/Jeff Robinson was terrific!  I thought he was the rankest of the night.  The judges scored him 43.5 points, right behind RANGA.  Buck Dynasty gave Frank Newsome a good stare-down, and left the arena quickly.

First order of business Saturday night was to check in on the bulls.  For some reason, the arena lights are always turned low as people are coming in and trying to find their seats.  The bigger problem is that fans can't see the bull pens!  We want to see the real stars of the show! Happily, I snuck in early enough and snapped a few pictures.

SANCHEZ CARTEL enjoyed a few laps around the arena after being ridden by Ryan Dirteater for 85 points.  This is always my favorite part of the night.  Sanchez Cartel was scored 42 points.

Brady Sims had a nice ride aboard GAS PEDAL from Mark Reed for 84.5 points.  Bull score 41.5 points.

One last, and completely unexpected gift, was seat upgrades to chute seats!  This gave me a new outlook on the event and views I would not normally get.  Like this one....just look at those horns...and those winter curls!  I could have jumped over the rail and started petting this big boy!  Love!!

JB Mauney had a nice ride on TRUE GRIT for 85.5 points, bull score 42.25 points.  Unfortunately, it was not enough points to get JB in the Championship Round.

I think I might have a new "bull crush".  This is UNCLE BAD TOUCH from K-C Bucking Bulls, and he is a rank one!  This is a young bull, who is showing some good promise.  He did slip a little on the dirt, which several bulls did, so his score of 41.5 points was a bit low for his buck off.

(1 of 3) Eduardo Aparecido attempting to ride BUCKLE UP from J Bar W Ranch.  Buckle Up was a big jumper and was all over the arena.

(2 of 2) It was fun watching until BUCKLE UP lost his footing and fell down.  You can just see Eduardo's foot underneath the bull.

(3 of 3) The bull fighters rushed in, as BUCKLE UP was trying to get up.  Frank Newsome has his hand in the bull rope trying to help Eduardo get free.  Thankfully, the bull was fine, Eduardo seemed fine and was awarded a reride.

Ben Jones was back riding Saturday night, and had a solid ride aboard AMERICAN GANGSTER from Chad Berger.  Ben scored 84 points, with a bull score of 41.5 points.

Cody Nance got his first scored ride of 2015, aboard MODIFIED CLYDE from Chad Berger, for 87.5 points.    Modified Clyde is such a cool looking bull with his nose ring!  He was scored 42.75 points.

On to the Championship round, and Mike Lee, who stepped up and chose MISSISSIPPI HIPPY from K-C Bucking Bulls.  Hippy is such a BIG bull!  You can see from Mike's position on the bull just how steep Hippy got.  Mike looked like he was going to fly off over Hippy's head!  MISSISSIPPI HIPPY tied with BEAVER CREEK BEAU for Top Bull Score honors with 45 points!  Congratulations to K-C and Chad Berger for their awesome bulls!

Not to be out-done by his larger ranch mate, WHO DEY from K-C easily bucked off Brady Sims, and got himself a 43.5 point bull score.  Who Dey went completely vertical after Brady was off.  I wished I'd had a better angle for that photo...wow!

Kasey Hayes had a great weekend in Baltimore, going 3 for 3 on his bulls, including this 89.25 point score on FIRE & SMOKE!  It was an awesome ride!!  The score was high enough to win Kasey the Championship Round, but not quite high enough to win the event.

The event win went to Reece Cates, who had this 86.5 point ride aboard PERCOLATOR in the Championship round.  

Overall, there were 20 rides in Round 1; 18 rides in Round 2; and 6 rides in the Championship Round.  Mike Lee won Round 1 with his score of 87.75 points.  High marked bull of Round 1 was Ranga, 44 points.  Reece Cates won Round 2 with his score of 88.5 points.  High marked bull of Round 2 was Flint, 43.75 points.  Kasey Hayes won the Championship Round with his score of 89.25 points.  Mississippi Hippy and Beaver Creek Beau tied for event High Bull Score honors with 45 points each.  Reese Cates was the Baltimore event winner.

Such a great event to start off the year.  I had so much fun in Baltimore. 
Good luck to the bulls and boys next weekend in Chicago!




All photographs by and property of Susan Hanrahan