PUEBLO, Colo. (January 10, 2011) - The Professional Bull Riders will be in Colorado this week for Touring Pro Division events in Denver and Pueblo.
The TPD is the development tour of the PBR, allowing established veterans and newcomers the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best bucking bulls.
“These are two of the best events in terms of fans being able to see some of the world’s best riders,” said PBR Senior Vice President of Competition Jay Daugherty. “The riders are able to stop in Colorado and compete against some great bulls on their way from the Built Ford Tough Series opener in New York to California for the BFTS event in Sacramento.”
A large number of the Top 40 riders from the nationally-televised BFTS are scheduled to compete, including the past three PBR World Champions, with Renato Nunes of Buritama, Brazil (2010), Kody Lostroh of Longmont, Colo. (2009), and Guilherme Marchi of Leme, Brazil (2008).
Held at the National Western Stock Show Coliseum, the event in Denver is the highest-paying TPD event of the year. Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased by telephone at (888) 551-5004.
Bull riding in Pueblo will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Colorado State Fair Events Center. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by telephone at (800) 745-3000.
The TPD gives riders the opportunity to compete in PBR-sanctioned events while earning money to qualify for the nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series, which is comprised of the Top 40 bull riders in the world. Every five events on the BFTS, the Top 5 riders (based on money earned) from the TPD are allowed to move into the BFTS.
The 2011 BFTS season opened last weekend in New York at world-famous Madison Square Garden. The season will conclude Oct. 26-30 in Las Vegas with the PBR World Finals, where the 2011 PBR World Champion will be crowned and awarded a $1 million bonus.
The BFTS is televised every week on VERSUS with select events being shown on NBC and CBS. Beginning in 2011, all Built Ford Tough Series telecasts will be produced for the PBR by David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 30-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who will serve as executive producer and creative lead.
Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division Event Results:
Jan. 8 at Grand Rapids, Mich.
1. Dusty LaBeth, Louisburg, Kan., 172.5 points.
2. Colin McTaggart, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 86.5 points.
3. Eli Vastbinder, Casstown, Ohio, 81.5 points.
Jan. 7-8 at Fairfax, Va.
1. Tony Mendes, Pueblo, Colo., 173 points.
2. Bronson Butcher, Muskogee, Okla., 169.5 points.
3. Tony Mendes, Pueblo, Colo., 167.5 points.
Jan. 7-8 at Bossier City, La.
1. Reese Cates, El Dorado, Ark., 180 points.
2. Paulo Crimber, Olimpia, Brazil, 178.5 points.
3. Caleb Sanderson, Kissimmee, Fla., 174.5 points.
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 100 million viewers annually watch over 400 hours of primetime PBR programming on VERSUS, NBC, CBS and networks around the world. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 20 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million -- the most of any western-sports athlete in history. The PBR was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TeamPBR and http://twitter.com/TEAMPBR.
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