87 is Magic Number at National Western Stock Show Bull Riding

DENVER, Colo. - A year ago during the first performance of the Professional Bull Riders' Denver Chute Out, Nick Landreneau was the leader.

The Welsh, La., bull rider had similar success at this year’s event but is sharing the top spot with two other bull riders. J.B. Mauney, from Mooresville, N.C., and Mark Lopes, from Jackson, Calif., also had 87-point rides.

Mauney finished as the champion here last year and won over $15,000. Each of these men will advance to a second round of competition. Mauney rode a bull named Smokin’ Aces from Gene Owens. Landreneau also got on a bull from Gene Owens, Evildoer. Lopes had the option of a re-ride after his first bull didn’t perform, so his 87-point effort came aboard Bubba Radkee’s bull named Too Sharp.

The first round will continue here on Tuesday night. Then the best riders from that round advance to a second round on Wednesday. Then their scores will be added together and the top 15 will get on a third bull. The man who has the highest total score on three bulls will win the 2009 championship and the buckle from Jeffrey Scott Fine Magnetics.

The Tuesday performance of the Denver Chute-Out, will begin at 7:30 p.m

The following are results from the first of three performances of the Professional Bull Riders’ Denver Chute Out at the National Western Stock Show, Monday, January 12, 2009.

1-3; J.B. Mauney, Mooresville, N.C.; Mark Lopes, Jackson, Calif.; and Nick Landreneau, Welsh, La.; 87. 4, Luke Snyder, Raymore, Mo., 86. 5, Bronson Butcher, Muskogee, Okla., 85.5. 6/7, Cory Melton, Tolar, Texas, and Matt Werries, Chapin, Ill., 84. 8, Markus Mariluch, Elko, Nev., 83.5.