Snow & Snot - Worcester, MA Velocity Tour Event

 Why...oh, why...does it snow every weekend in February, when the Blue Def Velocity Tour is in Worcester, Massachusetts?  Two years ago we dealt with 3 feet of snow!  Thankfully, this year was only a few inches over the weekend.  But, Worcester was the second snowiest city in the USA up until that point!  Yikes!

The bulls made it!  Most of the cowboys made it!  And, a good number of fans made it!  It was a fun event and a welcome distraction to winter.  Please enjoy this photo-blog of the event.

****Disclaimer***** My husband was a great help in writing down scores, names and bulls, but we did miss a few names here and there.  I've tried my best to identify everyone properly...please forgive me if I didn't.

Rubens Barbosa gets things underway Saturday night with an 82 point ride aboard CLEMENTINE. 

Tony Mendes bucks off DIRTY DEAL early, then endures a nasty wreck!  Thankfully, Tony and Dirty Deal were both ok!

Snot shot!  #1 of my "cool picture but no idea who this is" photos.

Shawn Best II falls off UNDER BITE.  No score.

(1 of 2) One of those moments when everyone sees the bull headed right at the cowboy, and no one can stop it!

(2 of 2) Fortunately, the bull only grazed the cowboy and he got to his feet ok.  A scary and exciting moment, all wrapped in to one!

Alexander Cardozo hung on during a wild ride and gets rewarded with a reride.  Evidently, DON'T WAKE ME was still sleepy!

But once DON'T WAKE ME woke up, the fun began!  He took his sweet time in the arena.  So much so that entertainer Matt Merritt tried to help safety man, Harold Miller out.  The whole thing was comical until the bull turned and looked at Matt.  The phrase "screaming like a little girl" comes to mind.

# 2 of my "cool picture but no idea who this is" photos.   This one has been identified!!  This is Clint Johnson, attempting to ride CROOKED FACE.  No score.

Alexander Cardozo's reride on MR. SLIM resulted in a buck off.  I must say, when I realized the Clones were in the bull pen, I squealed with delight.  We don't get to see these guys on the BFTS anymore, and I do love all four of the Clones, so this was a special treat for this bull lover!

Carlos Garcia rides BLUE DIDDY for 75 points and is awarded a reride.  One thing about the Velocity Tour riders is they take all the rerides given!  Those guys understand the need for precious points and opportunity to move up to the BFTS Top 35 riders!

Zane Cook gets launched, upside down and backwards, from SLIM'S GHOST.  No score.  Props to Zane, as he was one of the cowboys who stepped up and agreed to get on an extra bull, to fill in the spots of cowboys who didn't make it to Worcester due to weather/travel issues.

# 3 of my "cool picture but no idea who this is" photos.

# 4 of my "cool picture but no idea who this is" photos.  Really liked the position of the bull and his handsome face!

Great to get to see Austin Meier ride in Worcester.  Here his bull spun tight, right in the gate.  Austin score 81 points aboard HOT STUFF.

Talk about tight...yikes!!  This bull immediately dumped the cowboy and with 2 bull fighters and 2 gate guys, it was a little crowded and a little crazy!   At the end of Round 1, Roscoe Jarboe and Reagan Avery were tied for first place with 83.5 points each.

Championship Sunday starts with my #5 "cool picture but no idea" photos.  Day 2 was a little more confusing as some guys didn't ride and the listing we had was completely out of order.

Just a good old-fashion wreck, on a Sunday afternoon! (1 of 2)

This bull didn't let up and he left this cowboy with several "reminders' of his weekend in Massachusetts!  The rider walked out of the arena, and I don't really know if he was seriously hurt.  Hopefully, not!!

Hanging on for dear life!  # 6 of "my cool picture but no idea who this is" series.

Thad Newell gave it a go on PALEFACE but came off early.  No score.

Zane Cook has a close call but bucked off SHADY DEAL for a no score.

As he makes his way back from injury and several surgeries, Brian Canter had an 0-2 weekend in Worcester.  Here he comes off early from CLEMENTINE.

Austin Meier powers his way to an 83 point score on CREEK BEND BAD BOY in round 2.

Alexander Cardozo was awarded a reride, but came off his bull early. 

SLIM'S GHOST bucked again on Sunday, and went 2-0 on the weekend, bucking off this cowboy in round 2.

Tony Mendes rides ANOTHER ONE for 82.5 points in round 2.  One thing I do need to comment on is the low scores awarded on the Velocity Tour.  Not sure if this is across the board, or just this event, but all the scores were in the seventies to low eighties.  I really felt some of the rides deserved to be a point or two higher.  Since they never give out bull scores, it is hard to judge how the scores are broken down.

This picture is included simply because I love the snotitude!  This big guy was looking around like, "who's next?"

#7 of my series, "cool picture but no idea who this is".  Handsome bull, who got some big air!

This event was staged much like a BFTS event.  After the round 2 outs, a Championship round was held with the top 10 cowboys.  Dustin Rachford is bucked off by PECOS BILL to start things off.

CROOKED FACE sent Luis Blanco to the dirt early.  The bulls only gave up 3 rides in the Championship Round.

Round 1 co-leader, Roscoe Jarboe was paired with GREAT WHITE in the Championship Round.  GREAT WHITE won!

Austin Meier was last to ride, and he sealed his victory with an 83 point ride on GYPSY BOOTS.  Thrilled to see Austin win and have an opportunity to ride at the BFTS level again.

So much fun!  So much snot!  Too much snow!
Thanks to the PBR and Blue Def for bringing the Velocity Tour to the northeast.  We appreciate the effort made by all!  Looking forward to next year...and I'll keep the snowsuit handy.  ;)


Photographs by and property of Susan Hanrahan