COLUMBUS, Ohio. – The Championship Round of the 2008 World’s Toughest Rodeo™ featuring Toughest Cowboy™ presented by Jägermeister was held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus , Ohio , and officially brought the 2008 season to an end. In a true test of toughness on this one-of-a-kind rodeo revolution Tour, the four finalist had to compete on six head of stock – two bareback horses, two saddle bronc horses and two bulls – all in the same night to determine the 2008 Toughest Cowboy and to answer the season long question, “Who will win Jäger Ranch?”
In the end, it was Washington turned Wyoming cowboy Shane Proctor who was awarded the deed to Jäger Ranch and the iron glove trophy for being crowned the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion. Proctor, who currently resides in Powell, now has a new place to call home at his ranch outside Pueblo , Colo.
“It is definitely a dream come true,” said Proctor following his victory. “It is every cowboy’s dream to own a piece of America and now I am the proud owner of Jager Ranch.”
It wasn’t an easy route for Proctor in Columbus as he was pushed to the limit in both matches. In his first three-head match, he battled head-to-head with the third ranked cowboy Erik Wolford of Clinton, Mich. Proctor jumped out to an all important 2-0 lead after winning the bareback and saddle bronc riding. Proctor scored 78 points in the bareback riding compared to Wolford’s 76 and in the saddle bronc riding Proctor tallied 86 points, while Wolford finished with 84 points.
With the format of Toughest Cowboy, those two wins guaranteed Proctor a spot in the final head-to-head match no matter the outcome in the bull riding and total points category. The reason being is that the best Wolford could do at this point was tie Proctor. In this case the tiebreaker rule reverts back to the overall points collected in the Playoffs, and Proctor tallied five more points than Wolford had, so Proctor advanced to the final round.
The Proctor-Wolford match ended with Wolford scoring a season best 89-point ride in the bull riding giving him a total of 249 points, while Proctor posted 80 points bringing his total to 244. Wolford picked up the win in the bull riding and total points for the match tying him with Proctor but the result of the tiebreaker ended his hopes of owning Jäger Ranch.
“My hats off to Erik for a great match and luckily for me the tiebreaker went in my favor,” said Proctor following his semi-final match of the night.
In the other semi-final match of the night matched Chad Eubank of Cleburne, Texas, against Trey Broussard of Estherwood, La. Eubank, who knocked off the season leader Bandy Murphy in the Playoffs, faced another tough challenge in Broussard, who was the 2007 Toughest Cowboy reserve champion.
With about 20 family members in the stands, Broussard had his eyes on the final round and he proved that in his match against Eubank. Broussard swept the match after edging Eubank by two points in the bareback riding, five points in the saddle bronc riding and then 16 points in the bull riding. Broussard advanced to face Proctor for the title, while Eubank matched Wolford in the consolation round.
It was a see-saw match between Broussard and Proctor for the title. Proctor got the first “W” after outscoring Brossard by seven points in the bareback riding. However, Broussard got revenge in the saddle bronc riding after Proctor was thrown to the ground well before the eight second whistle.
With the score tied 1-1, the whole season came down to one-eight second bull ride for both cowboys. Whichever cowboy won the bull riding would not only be crowned the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion but would also win the deed to Jäger Ranch. In a dramatic photo finish it was Proctor edging Broussard by four points.
“Tonight there were a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I am glad it ended on the upside for me,” Proctor said. “This is definitely the highlight of my career. I am so happy to own a piece of America and I plan to be back next year to defend my title and see if I can win a spread right next to this one.”
Wolford made quick work of Eubank in the consolation match sweeping the match and finishing the season ranked third.
In just its second season, Toughest Cowboy presented by Jägermeister is revolutionizing the sport of rodeo by introducing an exciting and innovative format to audiences across the United States . Unlike other rodeos where riders usually compete in just one discipline, Toughest Cowboy is an unprecedented test of endurance as all competitors must compete in three disciplines in one night (Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding and Bull Riding). The events feature head-to-head matches throughout the season leading to the playoffs and championship…ultimately crowning someone the Toughest Cowboy Champion.
Jägermeister, the country’s best selling shot brand and top selling imported liqueur, was the first presenting sponsor of the Toughest Cowboy rodeo competition and tour in 2008.
Be sure to catch the bonus episode of the Championship Round from Columbus , Ohio , next week on Fox Sports Network (FSN) starting at midnight March 15 with rebroadcasts weekdays in primetime. For more information on this one-of-a-kind event and for television dates and times in your area visit www.toughestcowboy.com.
Tournament 9 Results
Columbus, Ohio
Match 1 – Semi-finals
Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La. vs. Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas – 4 wins to 0 wins; 200 points to 177 points; Broussard advances to the championship round
Match 2 – Semi-finals
Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich. vs. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo. – 2 wins to 2 wins; 249 points to 244 points; *Proctor wins the tiebreaker to advance to the championship round
*Tiebreaker reverted back to Playoff points
Match 3 – Consolation round
Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas vs. Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich. – 0 wins to 4 wins; 142 points to 217 points
Match 4 – Final Round
Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La. vs. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo. – 2 wins to 2 wins; 166 points to 145 points; *Proctor wins the tiebreaker and captures the title
*Tiebreaker revered back to total points in the semifinal round (Broussard – 200 points; Proctor – 244 points)
2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion: Shane Proctor
Final four standings for the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Series: 1. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo.; 2. Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La.; 3. Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich.; 4. Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas.
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