New York, NY (October 15, 2010) - As KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove” pounded over the loud speakers, a crowd gathered in Times Square.
To the thousands milling through one of the most iconic locations in the world, it was a bull riding exhibition. But for those who follow the Built Ford Tough Series, it was another step toward crowing the 2010 World Champion.
Travis Briscoe returned from injury and rode Skyhawk Cut-a-Rug for 87 points, as if he were in the same groove as he had been earlier in the season. He won the event and moved a total of 287 points closer to Austin Meier, who is still atop the standings.
J.B. Mauney’s 85.5-point effort on Flying J Saddles gave him a second-place finish in this last round before the start of the PBR World Finals on Wednesday in Las Vegas. Coupled with his 180 bonus points, Mauney now trails Meier by only 241.25 points.
“They’re within one round of one another,” said Jerome Robinson, a veteran of more than four decades of bull riding events.
“It’s going to come down to whoever does better at the Finals.”
Valdiron de Oliveira and Mike Lee both rode their bulls – Bird Creek and Chicken Lickin, respectively – for 84.5 points, as four of the Top 10 riders covered in the fourth of five Showdown rounds.
Meier nearly kept most of his lead over his rivals, but for a judges’ review.
When the 23-year-old matched up with Mac Nett’s El Presidente and hung off the side for what looked like the last 2 seconds, the judges called for an official review. After a few moments, the replay judge ruled that the elbow of Meier’s free arm made contact with the bull at 7.32 seconds.
Afterward, a disappointed but positive Meier said that he “took a tuck” in anticipation of the bull snatching his rope.
In a dangerous move, he decided to wrap the rope through his index and middle finger, which assured him that his hand could not come out of the rope.
Once the 8-second horn sounded and his hand wouldn’t come free, he thought twice, but later said that he will use the same tactic again, depending on what bulls he draws during the Finals.
Mauney gained ground and is significantly closer to Meier than he was to Kody Lostroh a year ago, but acknowledged that he still has his work cut out for him this coming week at the Thomas & Mack Center.
“When you get to the Finals you have to be pretty dang close, because Austin’s going to ride a lot of his bulls out there,” said Mauney. “He’s not going to come down off of very many, and I knew I had to be pretty dang close going into the Finals to even have a chance to catch him.
“It worked out in my favor today and I got a little closer, and what we have to do is keep riding bulls.”
Mauney, Meier, and 51 of the best bull riders in the world will have a chance to ride six more bulls beginning Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Las Vegas.
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