PUEBLO, Colo. (November 6, 2008) - The Professional Bull Rider Inc. (PBR) is proud to announce the recipient of the 2008 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, Chad Berger and Clay Struve. The pair won the prestigious award for the second consecutive year which is determined annually by a vote of the top 45 bull riders in the world. It was announced at the 2008 PBR Stock Contractors Banquet which took place earlier this week at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
“He’s just into it in a bigger way than most guys. He buys more bulls than anybody I know. He puts on several events himself and he does a really good job of keeping ‘em good once he buys ‘em,” stated Cody Lambert PBR Co-Founder and Livestock Director. “He’s got a great eye for talent and he’ll scout out some bulls that are maybe a little under the radar that I’ve never heard of. When he shows up with one that he says is good enough to be there I know I can count on him.”
Berger views the Stock Contractor of the Year honor as a crowning reward for decades of effort. “This is a team effort from my family, veterinarians, drivers, and business partners. I could not have not done it without them,” explains Berger.
Berger also has one of the top five bulls in contention for 2008 PBR Bull of the Year, Copperhead Slinger. With nine bulls competing in the 2008 PBR World Finals presented by Wrangler, Berger has made his presence known as the 2008 PBR Stock Contractor of the Year.
The ABBI Classic Bull Competition came down to the wire in the fourth round of competition at the World Finals when J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C.) rode the electric Crosswired, owned by H.D. and Dillon Page/Cliff Wiggins, for 93.75 points, wrapping up the competition for Crosswired. He was awarded $250,000 for his efforts.
The 2008 PBR World Champion Bull will be officially unveiled on Sunday, Nov. 9, upon conclusion of the final performance of the Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler. The champion will be determined by which of the top five candidates achieves the highest average score of the World Finals.
Other bucking bull awards already presented include:
ABBI Bucking Bull Classic Champion: Crosswired, owned by Cliff Wiggins and Dillon & HD Page ($250,000)
ABBI World Finals Futurity Champion: Copp Hou, owned by Jerry Copp of Lightning C Cattle Company ($100,000)
Breeder of the Year: H.D. and Dillon Page/ Cliff Wiggins
Horizon Award: Jerry Copp of Lighting C Cattle Company
n other bull business, a select sale of only 23 lots changed hands for an impressive $200,000 plus in gross sales when the PBR and American Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) combined forces to produce their Premier Bucking Bull Sale on Wednesday, November 5 at the South Point Hotel and Casino. The only thing free about the evening was that the event was open to the public. The top selling bulls were the magnificent bull Tilta Whirl, owned by Bryn Agnew, who was purchased by Chad Berger for $52,000; Rowdy Hoodlum was bought by Circle T Ranch for $42,000; and a Reindeer Dippin calf from Moreno Livestock of Marysville, Calif., was purchased for $26,000. Among the top reference sires represented at the sale were three-time PBR World Champion bull, Little Yellow Jacket and 2006 PBR World Champion bull, Mossy Oak Mudslinger. Over 500 people were in attendance and in excess of 100 registered buyers took part from inside the South Point Events Center, with another 50 participating online.
About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over 1.5 million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.
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