Ednei Caminhas Wins First Event in Five Years

By Barbara Pinnella
Posted Tuesday, February 17, 2009

There was so much that happened at the Express Classic Oklahoma City event that I will touch on all of the action as much as I can. First, I have to cheer about the event win that Ednei Caminhas got in this, the ninth event on the tour. Caminhas, the BFTS 2002 World Champion, had not gotten an event win for FIVE years! Unbelievable, but true. Hopefully this will turn his year around and make him glad that he did not stick to his decision to retire last year.

OK, on to the four rounds than made up the Oklahoma City event. 2008 World Champion Marchi brought his “A” game for the first round, winning it on Big Iron, owned by Diamond S Bucking Bulls, with a score of 91.5. Tying for second and third was Ryan Dirteater and Mike Lee, both with scores of 89.25. Dirteater rode D&H Cattle Company’s Scrappy, and Lee covered Pearl Snap, owned by Boyd/Floyd Bull Company. Another tie for fourth and fifth, this time between Renato Nunes and Mike White. These men got scores of 88.75. Nunes rode D&H Cattle Company’s Super Duty, and White covered Cat Man Do, of #10 Bucking Bulls.

Round two saw the hometown hero go from second to first, as Dirteater grabbed the honors. He rode Black Pearl, owned by Ravenscroft/Boyd/Floyd Bull Co. to a 90.75. This was also the first 90-point ride for Dirteater on the BFTS Tour. He certainly had quite a fan base behind him in Oklahoma City.

Second behind Ryan was Nunes. He was 88.75 on a Diamond S Bucking, Bull, Mission Accomplished. Brian Canter and Pete Farley tied for third and fourth when they both posted an 88.25. Canter rode Deja Blu, owed by Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC, and Farley overcame West Coast Cowboy, who is owned by Kent Cox and Rocking T Ranch. White was fifth on Last Call, with an 87.75 score. BRH Ranch/Homestead Genetics owns that bull.

Sunday brought round three and the short-go. Dirteater stepped up to the plate again, this time to tie for first with Chris Shivers. Both men scored an 89.75, Ryan on Stiffler, owned by Boyd/Floyd Bull Co., and Shivers on Motown, owned by Frontier Rodeo Company. To make this an even more special day for Ryan, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chad “Corntassel” Smith was in attendance.

Nunes hit the board again to be third on Murphy Ranch and Rodeo’s Full Throttle. He was awarded an 89.25. Ednei Caminhas was fourth. He got an 88.25 after riding Spotlight, owned by Silverado Rodeo Company.

Cody Ford scored an even 90 in the Championship Round to capture the win in the short-go. He rode H.D. Page/Bill & Betty Morrison’s Ricky Bobby. Luke Snyder was right behind with a score of 89.75 on Bovine Prime, owned by D&H Cattle Company. Caminhas got an 86.75 and was third on Bob. Silverado Rodeo Company owns Bob. Ross Coleman was fourth with an 85.5. he rode the Boyd/Floyd Bull Company bull, Spit Fire.

The event standings were interesting. Not only did Caminhas get that long-overdue victory, but Snyder was second. Luke was very close to being cut from the tour just a few events ago, but this popular bull rider, who has now ridden in 243 consecutive BFTS events, just kept on fighting, and it’s paid off. And speaking of Snyder, thanks to his showing in Oklahoma City, he became the newest member of the millionaire’s club. Congratulations, Ednei and Luke!

Third in the event standings was Dirteater, fourth was Nunes, and fifth was White.

The Salem NationaLease Bull of the Event was D&H Cattle Company’s Showtime. He was awarded a score of 46.25.

Cord McCoy suffered a broken rib during the first round of the Express Classic, and is questionable for Anaheim. Mauney and Zack Brown each suffered bruised forearms, but both men will ride in Anaheim.

The order for the BFTS World Standings have Mauney still in the lead, Dirteater in second, Kody Lostroh third, Austin Meier fourth, Marchi fifth, Robson Palermo sixth, Wiley Petersen seventh, Brown eighth, Nunes ninth, and Shane Proctor rounds out the top ten.

Now on to the exciting challenges that were, and are, taking place. J.B. Mauney had the opportunity to attempt to get the eight-second ride on Tom Teague’s Bones. Teague offered up $20,000 to the cowboy who could be the first to ride his great bull. Guilherme Marchi gave that challenge the initial try in North Carolina, but he bucked off. Mauney was offered the chance for this event in Oklahoma City, and man, did he stick it on him! If a score had been needed, his would have been 93.5 points. Mauney is now $20,000 richer.

And I could not mention Bones without saying something about Matt Bohon. Bohon picked Bones in the Championship Round, and did one hell of a job all the way to the whistle. Unfortunately, he was called for a slap and was given no score. As bad as that was however, this ride had to pump him up and make him feel invincible, and that will no doubt carry over through the next events.

Another challenge has been issued and accepted. Chad Berger, getting tired of hearing all about Bones, declared that his bull, Big Tex, is just as good. So he went to Teague, and by the time the dust cleared, the wager was $50,000 to see which bull is the best. The bulls will buck to see which one will receive the highest bull score in the Championship Round in St. Louis on March 1st. The cowboys who draw them will certainly have an influence on those scores. One might stay on his bull for 2.1 seconds, while another might ride. This should really be fun. After all, isn’t this how rodeo started in the first place – I can ride that bronc, or my horse is better than yours?

This years Ring of Honor recipients have been announced. They are, three-time World Champion Adriano Moraes, two-time World Champion Justin McBride, and 2002 World Finals winner J.W. Hart. They will be inducted on Friday, May15th at the PBR Headquarters in Pueblo, Colorado. Congratulations to these three fabulous bull riders!

And finally, Greg Potter has decided to hang up his spurs. This Australian will certainly be missed, as he was quite well-liked with the fans on the PBR tour. Good luck to Greg in all that he attempts to do from now on.

Andy Watson photos.

Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.