And the winner of round six of the PBR World Finals is... are...

By Mary Rudloff
Posted Sunday, November 8, 2009

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (November 7, 2009) – Ride cowboy, ride!

And ride they did.

The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) saw a new record get penciled into its history book tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center, as five riders split first place in round six of the 2009 PBR World Finals.

After a tough round Friday night that saw only a handful of rides, Saturday’s arena turned into “8-Second City” for 24 of the 40 riders, with two more less than a second away from that mark. By the end of the night, the buckle ceremony looked like a riders meeting, as the five went out to claim the round buckle (they will each get their own) and their share of the pooled prize money for first through fifth place.

The energy level in the Thomas & Mack ramped up quick as six of the first seven riders out of the chute gates put up scores. It rarely let down from there.

Kicking off the night was Virginia’s Billy Robinson, who got into the Finals as an alternate on Friday. Robinson took it to Booger Butt (Jeff Robinson/Mike Tedesco/Larry the Cable Guy) for 86.75 points, a solid score that tonight left him tied for 15th/16th places. Next out was Aaron Roy, riding Big Iron (4L & Diamond S rodeo Co) for 89.25, which would be the most popular number of the night. He was followed by Clayton Baethge, making his 2009 Finals debut after Ryan McConnel’s injury knocked him out of the competition. Baethge would take Sky Hawk Cut a Rug (J Robinson/Bar None) for 85 points, and 23rd place.

It continued from there, as Cody Nance, who tied up the Daisy Rookie of the Year title tonight, rode “Foolish Pride” (4L & Diamond S Rodeo) for 89.25, to join the crowd in the winner’s circle. Josh Koschel scored 85.75 on “Alligator Chomp” (Frontier Rodeo Co) and 21st/22nd place, and Shane Proctor closed out the first section at 87 points (13th/14th place) on “Sam’s Town” (Frontier Rodeo/BRH Ranch).

Section two had a slightly slower pace, with Brian Herman, the PBR’s 39-year old senior rider, breaking out of the zero-zone with his first ride of the finals, with his 88 pointer on “Wrapped with Envy” (Martinez Bucking Bull LLC). It should be noted that PeeWee has been riding the Finals with a broken riding hand. His 88 finished him tied for 10th/11th place.

In that section, Pete Farley took a shot from his bull, “Big Mike” (Flying U/Cindy Rossser), a bull that was having its last out before retiring. Farley is questionable for Sunday’s round, with a concussion from that contact.

Also in that round, Bryan Richardson was knocked out of the competition with a possible fractured eye socket he sustained from his 5.3 second ride on “Stiffler” (Boyd/Floyd Bull Co).

Section three went back to being a ride-a- palooza, with six of the eight riders putting scores up. Ben Jones started it with 88.5 on “Hammered” (Davis & Wilson/White & Shoemaker) and 7th/8th place, followed by Kasey Hayes on “Fire Plug” (K&K Cattle Co) for 86.25 points and 17th/18th place. Ross Coleman and Ednei Caminhas put up scores back to back, with Coleman’s 87 points on “Double Scoop” (Davis & Wilson/Puckett & Prewitt) and Caminhas’ 86.75 points on “Carolina Cat” (Walton & Wagoner).

For Coleman, it meant a 13th/14th place finish and a trip to the hospital for a separated shoulder. His status for Sunday was “probable” at press time. For Caminhas, the ride continued his hot streak, as his fourth consecutive ride of the finals, putting him in good standing for making Sunday’s championship round.

Skeeter Kingsolver finally got himself out of the zero-zone on Saturday night as well, riding “Little Juicy” (Don Kish) for 86.25 points.

Getting his second score of the Finals was Luke Snyder, riding “Sir Patrick” (Dakota Rodeo/Struve/Rosen) for 85.75 points.

Snyder brought gales of laughter through the arena, when he picked up on a $5 bet offered by entertainer Flint Rasmussen, imitating Rasmussen’s impression of a little gymnast tugging loose a leotard. After his ride, Snyder joked that “with the way I’m riding this weekend, I need the money.”

Section four saw two of the five first place riders, as first Brian Canter got his second score of the Finals, an 89.25 on “Frosty” (Circle T Ranch & Rodeo) and then Kody Lostroh, in the Enterprise Ride With the Best for having won the previous night, did the same on “Chester” (Mendell/Jaeger). That ride put an extra $5,000 in Lostroh’s pocket, although in the points lead for the World Champion title, it was more about the points than the bucks. In an interesting twist, Lostroh also received a re-ride option – unusual fr that high of a scoring ride – but he declined it.

Also riding in section four were Caleb Sanderson, taking 6th (after the five number-one riders), with 89 points on “Outa Da Blue” (Circle T); Beau Hill, with 88.5 points (7th/8th) on “Cajun Blast” (Circle T); and Rocky McDonald with 86 points – his 2nd score of the finals – on “Bad Medicine” (Dakota Ranch/Struve).

Unfortunately for Hill, it proved a costly ride, as he is out of the World Finals due to a dislocated shoulder that occurred either during his ride or from contact with the bull after the ride.

In flight five, Austin Meier got and then gave back an 80.75 point ride, accepting the re-ride option that came from Little Bo’s less than stellar out. He made good on the option, riding “Bird Creek” later that night for 88.25 points, his fourth score of the Finals.

Also riding in section five was Dustin Elliott, on “Wrangler’s Rock Star” (Braithwaite & Dansey) for 81.5 points. Elliott received but turned down a re-ride option, making the “businessman’s decision” to keep the score – also his fourth of the Finals – and go for a guaranteed spot in the standings and the short-go on Sunday.

The last section of the night saw four more scores – including one more person stepping into the winner’s circle. Robson Palermo joined the “$14,000 Club” with his 89.25 on “Grey Dog” (D&H Cattle Co). Valdiron de Oliveira kept his perfect riding streak alive, covering his sixth bull, “Maverick” (Lufkin Ranch) for 88 points and 10th/11th in the round.

World Champion Guilherme Marchi finally got himself out of a very unfamiliar place – the scoreless zone – with his first qualified ride of the finals, an 86-pointer on “Rowdy LJ” (Circle T), and 19th/20th place.

Then it all came down to the man challenging Kody Lostroh for the world title, JB Mauney. Mauney picked “Beer Goggles” (Don Kish) in the draft, and was evidently seeing clearly when he did, as he rode the bull for 86 points, a 12th place finish. It helps Lostroh as far as bonus points for the round, but Mauney is still a half-point ahead of Lostroh in the World Finals average.

So, in a PBR publicity dream, it will all come down to Championship Sunday. If Lostroh or Mauney bucks off, it could close the books on that rider’s dreams of a World Champion gold buckle for this year. If both ride, it will take mathematical wizards dusting off the old abacus to figure out – in a pile of ride scores, round bonuses, World Finals average bonuses and season points – who will be the new PBR world champion.

Hang on tight, because that ride to the finish line is picking up speed fast.