OKC & A Farewell

Before I let loose on the last event in Oklahoma City, I must share the heartbreaking news that Circle T Ranch & Rodeo's ASTEROID, JACK DANIEL'S AFTER PARTY and SHEPHERD HILLS TRAPPER are all being retired.   This is a bit of a surprise, especially Asteroid.  I checked in with Jeff Talley, owner of Circle T,  and he said that he wanted these bulls to go out while they are healthy.  Happy Retirement and enjoy pastures full of heifers.  It's been a great ride!!

World Champion Bucking Bull, ASTEROID, in Las Vegas, October 2014.  Asteroid always enjoyed a good back scratch.  I was happy to oblige.  I will miss seeing him!

The PBR event in Oklahoma City was a three day event, jam packed with incredible bull power!  I was just about crawling off the couch, in excitement, when studying the bulls being bucked.  The other thing I kept telling myself was "next year I HAVE to go to OKC!  The bull power is always INCREDIBLE!"  Best start saving my pennies for 2016!

Round 1 was the first ABBI Classic competition of 2015.  These 3 and 4 year old bulls are explosive, unpredictable and hard to corral.  But, WOW! is the future of bucking bulls bright.  The Top 5 finishers on the night were Y16 BRUTUS from Bob & Jeri Adams, D&H Cattle and Buck Cattle Co.  BRUTUS was so strong with a wicked jerk down followed by a steep kick.  All of that combined for a buck off in 2.34 seconds, and a bull score of 45.75 points (out of 50).  Second was 32Y BRUISER from D&H Cattle and Buck Cattle Co.

BRUISER was just hanging out in his pen, last year in Las Vegas when I visited, but there was no hanging out Friday night in OKC!  He bucked his way in to second place with a 44.75 point score and a 4.29 second buck off!  This bull won over $200,000 in ABBI competitions last year.

Third place in Friday's competition went to 35 PEARL HARBOR, from Boyd & Floyd, a son of the great BLACK PEARL.  Fourth place went to 23 WHAT A BURGER from DAM Cattle Co. This bull is a handsome black & white bull, with good kick and fast spin.  44 points was his take.  Rounding out the Top 5 was 1 GANGSTER ROLL from Warren's Bucking Bulls, a son of the great I'M A GANGSTER.

There were 13 rides in Round 1, which I have to say, is a good number on a Classic night.  The crowd was treated to several bulls running around, enjoying their time in the spotlight. 

Round 2 brought a good, solid pen of bulls.  Nineteen rides were tallied.  Bulls who stood out were THUNDER HEAD, who had a 3.9 second buck off, then enjoyed playing with the bull fighters for a spell.  VEGAS OUTLAW, CHIGGER, SMOOTH OPERATOR and LITTLE BIGHORN all were feisty, big buckers and rank! 

JET AIRLINER from Moad Cattle was in the line-up for the first time in 2015.  I was sure happy to see him back.  And he stayed true to his name, with a huge, high jump exploding out of the chute and jumping at least 4 feet off the ground.  He bucked off his rider in 2.41 seconds land was awarded 43 points.

The big issue is round 2 was a disqualification of a rider, who had ample time in the chute, and chose to rewrap his hand at least 3 times.  I have no problem with this DQ.  In my humble opinion, each time the rewrap occurs, the rope is tightened around the bull, adding stress to the animal.  I am in 100% favor of any DQ, if the bull is in the chute longer than normal, and under risk of jumping/fussing in the chute, which could cause injury to both bull and rider.  I've said it before, get in, wrap your hand and get out...as fast as possible!

In Round 3, the bulls only gave up 10 rides.  MARSHMELLOW MAN (nice direction changes), BLACK SOUL (high jump and kick), SPOTTED VELVET (wicked cut and direction change), FULLY LOADED (exploding out of chute), SUCKER PUNCH, CALIFORNIA SPORTS COAT, MAGIC TRAIN (whip and kick), HELLS A POPPIN (handsome bull with lots of attitude and belly roll), and DUMBER (rank out) were all stand outs it the round.  TAR HEEL was fussy in the chute because he was in there a ridiculously L-O-N-G time, and the rider should have been DQ'd!  I hate that the bull and stock contractor are "punished" for a rider who consistently soaks bulls, and it seems, is allowed to do so.  The BS flags, pillows, slippers...whatever I  could get my hands on...went flying around the living room over this non-call!

You know that the bull power is insanely good, when Jeff Robinson's WALK OFF is a reride bull in the Championship Round!

The great MICK E MOUSE made his 2015 debut, and it was awesome to see Mick E buck!  He was left for last, which annoys me that no one steps up and picks him, but also is a testament to how hard he is to ride.  Cowboy up riders!  Mick E did hip himself on the way out of the chute but easily bucked off Bonner Bolton.  Mick got a low 44.75 point score. 

Jared Allen's AIR TIME also made his 2015 debut in OKC.  This crazy good bull bucked off Renato Nunes in 5.14 seconds and earned himself 44.75 points.  Air Time had some huge kick and roll, and he is so much fun to watch!

The only ride in the Championship Round was JB Mauney aboard SAVAGE.  They combined for 86.25 points.  Only one ride is a testament to how great the bulls were in the final round.  Congratulations to Matt Triplett, who won the OKC event, his first win on the BFTS!  Matt, along with JB, put on a clinic of how to make great rides on great bulls.  It was sure exciting to watch!

Sweet Pro's LONG JOHN from D&H Cattle and Tim Dougherty took the honors of Top Bull Score of the Event with a 46 point score, for his 2.08 second buck off.  D&H, and their partners had 6 bulls in the Championship Round....that's impressive!  They have a crazy good set of bulls going in to the 2015 season.  Gonna be some fun watching this year!

All photographs by Susan Hanrahan