Lone Star Dodge Colby Yates Challenge presented by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Choctaw Casino

By Ted Harbin
Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008

SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas - Canadian Rob Bell put himself in position to win some Texas cash on Friday night by being one of two cowboys to ride two bulls during the first of two performances of the Lone Star Dodge Colby Yates Challenge presented by Priefert Ranch Equipment and Choctaw Casino.

Bell, a two-time Professional Bull Riders World Finals qualifier, spurred the Kevin Pool bull Black Bend to 88.5 points to finish in a tie for third in the first round. He then matched moves with the bull Smack Talk from Cody Hebert for 81.5 points and leads the standings with 170 points.

He hopes it will hold up when another list of top-name contestants and up-and-coming superstars takes the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The best score after the two nights will win the lion’s share of the nearly $30,000 in prize money.

Bronson Butcher of Muskogee, Okla., is No. 2 in the standings,

Another veteran, Brian Herman of Victoria, Texas, has the lead in the first round with a 91-point ride atop the Cervi-Guidry bull Hot Diggity Dam. Kolt Donaldson of Idabel, Okla., scored a 90.5 on the B/C Bucking Bulls/Barnett & Carnes bull Tokyo Drift.

But in the Extreme Trifecta that is the Sulphur Springs event, there were others that made their mark. During the American Bucking Bull Inc. Classic, which judges 3- and 4-year-old bulls on their bucking ability, the D&H Cattle Co./Shawn Runyan bull Jacob’s pet scored a 91.75 to take the early lead. Apollo of Jones Rodeo Genetics scored a 91.25.

In the Professional Bullfighters’ Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour competition, the Lone Star Dodge team of Jay Brewer of Graham, Texas, and Kevin Pitts of Burleson, Texas, took the lead with 176 points. The bullfighters are judged primarily on how well they protect the bull riders, but also in how aggressive they are in doing so. Brewer and Pitts are just two points ahead of second place team Wolf Pipe, Sam Gress of Hutchinson, Kan., and Wacey Munsell of Ulysses, Kan.

RESULTS

COLBY YATES CHALLENGE

PBR Enterprise-Rent-A-Car Tour: First round: 1. Brian Herman, Victoria, Texas, 91 points on Cervi-Guidry’s Hot Diggity Dam; 2. Kolt Donaldson, Idabel, Okla., 90.5; 3. Clayton Beathge, Johnson City, Texas, Rob Bell, Houston, British Columbia, and Josh Koschel, Greeley, Colo., 88.5. Championship round: 1. Bronson Butcher, Muskogee, Okla., 85; Bell, 81.5 points; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Bell, 170; 2. Butcher, 167.5; 3. Herman, 91; 3. Donaldson, 90.5; 4. Beathge and Koschel, 88.5.

ABBI Classic: 1. Jacob’s pet, D&H Cattle Co./Shawn Runyan, 91.75; 2. Apollo, Jones Rodeo Genetics, 91.25; 3. Chester, Mendell, Lane, Donard, 90.25; 4. Warzone, Kenny Jack, 90; 5. Hex, Lynn Rice/Mike Lane, and Skat Jacket, L&G Cattle Co., 89.75.

Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour: 1. Team Lone Star Dodge, Jay Brewer, Graham, Texas/Kevin Pitts, Burleson, Texas, 176 points; 2. Team Wolf Pipe, Sam Gress, Hutchinson, Kan./Wacey Munsell, Ulysses, Kan., 174; 3. Team Fuller’s Towing, Brian Flanders, Amarillo, Texas/Cole Ott, Shamrock, Texas, 171; 4. Team Alliance Bank, Ross Hill, Muscle Shoals, Ala./Lance McIlvain, Arlington, Texas, 165; 5. Team CNB City National Bank, Brandon Brazier, Lousiana, Mo./Jason Magditch, Revere, Pa., 158.

SPONSORS: Lone Star Dodge, Mineola and Sulphur Springs; Priefert Ranch Equipment; Choctaw Casino; Alliance Bank; Fullers Towing; CNB Bank; Grocery Supply; Daisy Outdoor Products; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Big Smith’s Barbecue; Oaks Construction; Sulphur Springs Livestock; Farm Country Inc.; Circle E Western Store; Superior Genetics; TwoBulls Pro Sports Rub; CiboVino Restaurant, Winnsboro; Champion Genetics; Hall Oil Co.; TwoBulls Pro-Formance Supplements; Double C Steakhouse and Saloon, Winnsboro; KSST 1230 AM; Star Country 95.9 and 96.9, KOYN 93.9 and KBUS 101.9; and Best Western Trail Dust Inn.