Dakota Bank PBR Bull Riding Challenge

The weekend of June 19-20, 2015, The Bismarck Event Center hosted the 15th annual "Dakota Community Bank & Trust PBR Bull Riding Challenge".  Chad Berger Bucking Bulls was the featured stock contractor.  Joe and Nevada Berger also provided bulls for one flight of bull riding each night.  But think about it...one family provides enough bulls for an entire event.  Impressive?  I'd say so!!!  And, Chad Berger manages to get PBR entertainer, Flint Rasmussen, PBR arena announcer, Clint Atkins and PBR bull fighters, Frank Newsome  and Cody Webster to join the fun.

This was my third time attending this Blue Def Velocity Tour event.  It's one of my favorites!  A smaller arena, with a smaller town atmosphere.  Major community sponsorships and support.  Plus, an arena packed with great fans!  How could I not keep coming back?

So, here we go...a photo blog of my experience.  Hope you enjoy it!

Robson Palermo was back in action in Bismarck.  Friday night was a tough one for him, as he came off REBOUND early.  42.5 point bull score

Ryan Dirteater gave it his all, but RED RIVITS odd trip got Ryan off before 8 seconds. 34.5 point bull score.

JW Harris didn't have a great weekend, unfortunately.  MORE BIG BUCKS easily got JW off to the side, then on to the ground.  43 point bull score.

SUPER CELLA was a bit much for Tyler Harr in Round 1.  He got Tyler off his back and gave him a parting stomp on the helmet!  Thank goodness it was only a glancing blow!  41.5 point bull score.

How can I resist this face???  MENTAL REVENGE is a cutie!

Having a little trouble identifying some of the local ND cowboys, this photo is either Cody Kehr or Tate Smith.  Either way, it was a buck-off, and the landing was dramatic, not textbook!

 And then, the lights went out!  A major storm hit Bismarck, with winds of 60-80+ mph.  Streets were flooding all over the city, and the arena announcer came on and said that no one was allowed to leave the building.  I've never been in a place where that kind of announcement was made!  Eventually, enough light came back on, that the bull riding could resume.  Unfortunately,  not enough light came back for picture taking, so I lost out on the entire last flight of rides.  Thankfully, after the break, the lights came back on completely, just in time for the Championship Round.

It was great to see SMOOTH OPERATOR back in action.  He was the high marked bull of the night with a 46 point bull score.  He also gave Cody Tyler a bit of snotitude after the ride! ;)

Cody Nance had a rematch with FIRE & SMOKE that went the bulls way.  He is such a cool looking bull!  42.5 point bull score.

BOOT JACK giving Bryan Titman a parting "gift" or kick in the pants, on his way out.  BOOT JACK was fantastic and scored 45 points.

BEAVER CREEK BEAU quickly dismissed Derek Kolbaba, and was scored 44 points.  I'd given the bull at least a 45!  He is a gorgeous animal, and rank.  BODACIOUS would be proud of his son!

FLINT, the bull, was rank! He was having none of anybody's anything!  He even gave his namesake some attitude!  Flint, the entertainer, was up on the shark cage telling FLINT, the bull, to behave!  FLINT, the bull,  bucked off Cody Campbell and received a 43.5 point bull score.

Michael Lane and Neil Holmes tied for the long round win.  Here Neil Holmes gets a turfing by STUNTIN LIKE MY DADDY.  Guess he took exception to being thought easier to ride! 42.5 point bull score.

 Renato Nunes was the only cowboy to ride in the Short Round.  he covered STRONG HEART for 86 points, and the night one win.  SMOOTH OPERATOR was the high marked bull of night one with a 46 point score.  Chad Berger's partner, Julie Rosen, received the belt buckle for their star bull.

As always, my first objective is to check in with the bulls each night.  Saturday, they were lined up and ready to go!

Kolt Donaldson was first out Saturday night on MAVERICK.  The bull took several long jumps out in to the arena before getting Kolt on the ground.  Bull score 39 points.  But...

...that's when the fun began!!  Maverick was not about to go quietly!  Several trips around the arena, then the scary part when he went up against the safety horse.  Happy to report that no one was injured!

Nathan Schaper, a local ND bull rider and crowd favorite, didn't have things go the way he wanted, unfortunately.  RATTLER gets Nathan on the ground easily, and a bull score of 42.5 points.

I think the bull was throwing me a kiss! No???  Cody Nance rides TRIGGER for 84 points, 41.5 point bull score.

Stetson Lawrence rides MORE BIG BUCKS in dramatic fashion, for 86.5 points.  I could not believe Stetson recovered after being this far back on the bull!  This earned Stetson a place in the short go.

Robson Palermo had a great ride on CHANTILLY LACE for 88 points in the long round.  Robson looked terrific on the back of that bull.  43 point bull score.  This ride tied him for second place in the long round.

Neil Holmes made a great ride on BOOGER RED for 85 points, but the dismount was scary!  Neil got hung up, and the bull fighters moved in to free his hand.  Neil spun several times with the bull before he was free.  Thank God Neil was not hurt! But once again, the bull fighters proved how awesome they are at what they do!!

MENTAL REVENGE...just because I love this bull! :)  42.5 point bull score

The Short Round line up for Saturday Night.  Some good match ups, for sure!

Wallace Vieira de Oliveira was left with SMOOTH OPERATOR.  With moves like this, no wonder none of the other cowboys wanted this bull!  Wallace was sent to the ground early.  44 point bull score....a bit low, in my opinion!

APOLLO STRIPES was rank in Bismarck!  He was in the long round Friday, and was so good, that they moved him up to the short round Saturday night.  Here Cody Nance makes a valiant attempt but the bull was just too good!  44.5 point bull score.

Ryan Dirteater had no luck with BOOT JACK.  All he had was an awkward get off!  BOOT JACK tied for high bull score of the night with a 44.5 point score.  I needed the BS flag on that one!

CASH YA OUT stumbled on his way out of the chute, so Neil Holmes was awarded a reride.  Neil's night didn't get any easier, because the reride bull was FIRE & SMOKE.  Bull 44 - Neil 0

Once again, FLINT, the bull, was taking after his namesake, Flint the entertainer, by entertaining the crowd with his rank moves.  44 point bull score and Michael Lane on the ground.

Stetson Lawrence tried so hard but COOPER TIRES BROWN SUGAR was just too good!  Stetson came off early and the bull received a 44 point score.  Not the way the ND boy wanted to end the weekend.

Robson Palermo had a terrific ride aboard REDBONE and won the short go with an 89 point score.  Renato Nunes won overall, with an 88 point ride on COW TOWN SLINGER in the short go.  Renato got the points, the buckle, the rifle and the $$$.  He was 4-4 on the weekend!  Congratulations Renato!

BOOT JACK was awarded the high marked bull score on Saturday night.  Boot Jack is a grandson of Little Yellow Jacket.  In a sweet moment, Chad Berger awarded his dad, Joe Berger, the buckle for high marked bull, in honor of the amazing legacy and bloodlines out of the Berger breeding program and Yellow Jacket.

This was a first class event!  Great bulls, great riders, great entertainment...the whole package!  If you ever have the opportunity to attend this event in the future...do it!  Chad Berger and his family, and the Bismarck community do an awesome job making this event happen!  Congratulations to all!


Photographs by and property of Susan Hanrahan