SAN ANTONIO, Texas --- It’s been a few years since Dustin Elliott won the Xtreme Bulls event at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo in 2005.
Elliott showed fans in the AT&T Center just how happy he was to be back with two eight –second rides that earned him $18,617. Forty of the best bull riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) competed for $79,900 here on Thursday night. And, just to prove that they are the best, the top three positions were filled by men that wear gold buckles earned by world champions.
Elliott won the PRCA title in 2004. Second place in the Xtreme Bulls went to Wesley Silcox from Santaquin, Utah with 174.5 points, who won the world title in 2007. J.W. Harris, the reigning and 2008 world champ finished third with 168 points. Elliott’s total earnings were $18,617. Silcox won $15,181 and Harris finished with $9,669.
Interestingly enough, all three of these men have also had a lot of success here. Elliott has placed in the rodeo and has gotten a check nearly every time he has been here. Silcox won the Xtreme Bulls in 2006 and the rodeo in 2008. Harris tied for the title at last year’s rodeo and has finished as the runner-up for the Xtreme Bulls.
“I’m a huge San Antonio Spurs fan,” Elliott said. “I love coming to this arena and riding where they play basketball. I think that energy carries over to the bull riding and rodeo.”
Silcox agreed with Elliott. “San Antonio has been very good to me,” he said. “Anytime you go to an arena and win good checks it’s a boost for your confidence. It makes you want to come back and do it again.”
That boost will be good for all of these men. Silcox finished in 16 th place in the PRCA world standings in 2009 missing a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualification by one position. Elliott hasn’t been to the WNFR since 2006 when his wife, Cynthia, was expecting their twins. Ethan and Emma were born Feb. 10, so Dustin will have a little extra cash for their third birthday.
Harris won the world title but early at the 2009 WNFR broke his riding hand and spent most of his time in Las Vegas as a spectator. He had not been on a bull until he arrived here and was grinning from ear to ear when he was successful on both rides.
“It felt great,” he said. “What an awesome way to come back. I can’t wait to get on another one.”
Rodeo competition starts on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Results - SAN ANTONIO, Texas --- The following are results from the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo Xtreme Bulls, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010.
First Round: 1 (tie), Marcus Michaelis, Caldwell, Idaho, on Andrews Rodeo Company’s Reeses Pieces; Cody Whitney, Asher, Okla., on D & H Cattle Company’s Slim Chance; and Clint Craig, Mena, Ark., on Beutler & Son Rodeo Company’s Big Spin, 91 points, $5,593 each. 4, Dustin Elliott, North Platte, Neb., 88, $2,637. 5, Dylan Werner, Bushnell, Fla., 86, $1,678. 6 (tie), Luke Haught, Weatherford, Texas, and Tate Stratton, Stanley, N.M., 85, $1,079. 8, Wesley Silcox, Santaquin, Utah, 83.5, $719.
Final Round: 1, Wesley Silcox, 91 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo Company’s Aches & Pains, $5,273. 2, Dustin Elliott, 88.5, $3,995. 3, J.W. Harris, Mullin, Texas, 86, $2,876. 4, Clayton Williams, Carthage, Texas, 83.5, $1,918.Total on two: 1, Elliott, 176.5, $11,985. 2, Silcox, 174.5, $9,189. 3, Harris, 168, $6,792. 4, Williams, 164.5, $4,394. (on one) 5 (tie), Michaelis, Whitney and Craig, 91, $2,131 each. 8, Werner, 86, $1,199.
