PUEBLO, Colo. (October 4, 2010) - Bones won World Champion Bull honors two years ago. He’s positioning himself to add a second crown.
Bones (Tom Teague Bucking Bulls) had a dynamic performance in the short-go at the Charlottesville (Va.) Invitational last week, and was awarded an event-high 45 bull points. He has competed at four Built Ford Tough Series events in the past two months after not competing on the premier circuit the previous six.
Cody Lambert, PBR’s livestock director, thinks the increased activity has benefited the bull.
“He looks like he’s bucked himself into fine shape now,” Lambert said in Charlottesville. “I think in the past he hasn’t had enough trips. Even when he was the World Champion Bull, I don’t think he was bucked quite enough. I think now he’s bucked enough times this summer in a row that he’s at the point that he’s in fine shape.
“I think he should be one of the top bulls to go for a World Championship, and I think if there’s very many bulls that can contend with Bushwacker, he’s one of them. Highway 12 was also really impressive and I think they’ll vote him into the top five, as well.”
The PBR’s Top 40 riders have voted for the top five bulls they think should compete for World Champion Bull at the Built Ford Tough World Finals, though the list has not yet been released.
Lambert allowed fans to pick two additional bulls this year, and by voting online, they chose Bushwacker (Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls) and Voodoo Child (Robinson, Beutler, Bar None, McNeely & Broken N-N).
Lambert has reserved the right to add another, and the complete list of finalists will be announced shortly. Bulls will have two opportunities to accumulate points in Las Vegas.
Voodoo Child and Major Payne (Robinson, Bar None, Segs, Skyhawk Rugs & Red Knection), another title contender, also performed well on the University of Virginia campus. Voodoo Child received 45.25 points and Major Payne 45. Highway 12 (Mesa Bucking Bulls) was a shade below at 44.5.
This weekend in Uncasville, Conn., Major Payne upped the ante to 45.75 points with Kasey Hayes in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. He tied fellow contender Big Tex (Dakota Rodeo, Berger & Struve) for the second-highest bull score of the event.
Bushwacker, who did not compete in Charlottesville or Uncasville, has been a serious contender for World Champion Bull all season. He was marked 46.25 and 44.75 points for two outs in Springfield, Mo., nearly three weeks ago. He received 47 points in Memphis, Tenn., last month.
One contender who did not look good in Charlottesville was Uncle Buck (Jeff Robinson). After scoring 45 points in Greenville, S.C., earlier this month, he tied his lowest marking of the year with 44 points. He has been marked as high as 46.5 points twice in 2010.
Other contenders looking to compete for No. 1 bull honors include Yellow Jacket, Jr. (Berger, Struve & Rosen), White Magic (Diamond G Rodeos), Moon (Homestead Genetics, BRH Ranch), Bring It (Dakota Rodeo, Berger & Struve) and 2007 World Champion Bull Chicken on a Chain (Robinson, Tedesco, Larry the Cable Guy).
