North Carolina Bull Rider Takes Tacoma Invitational!

By Lindsay Rosser, PBR
Posted Monday, March 23, 2009

PBR superstar Brian Canter takes his second event win of the 2009 BFTS season.

TACOMA, Wash. (March 22, 2009) - The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) set the Tacoma Dome on fire as the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) bucked into Tacoma, Wash., on March 21-22. The Tacoma Invitational, stop #15 on the elite tour, featured the 40 best bull riders in the world, all competing against top bulls from across the Great Northwest area. In the end, North Carolina superstar Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) was victorious in Tacoma after scoring 270 points on three bulls, winning by a huge margin of 9.5 points. Canter added $41,620.40 to his bank account as well as valuable points to his 2009 Built Ford Tough Series World Standings.

“I took off the last couple events and came back very confident,” Canter said from the winner’s circle. “I was working hard at home, going to the gym and to therapy for my shoulder. It’s still sore, but not as bad as two weeks ago. This win is definitely getting me motivated for the rest of the year.”

In round one, Canter scored 87 points on the bull Splatter, owned by Don Kish Bucking Bulls, splitting fourth, fifth, and sixth place. He followed that up with a victory in round two after riding Don Kish Bucking Bulls’ Beer Goggles for 89.75 points. He entered the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in first place with a total of 176.75 points, where he picked one of the top five bucking bulls of 2008, Troubadour, in the PBR Bull Draft. Canter covered Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls’ prize animal for an event high of 93.25 points---locking up not only the Championship Round victory, but the coveted Tacoma event title.

“I’ve always wanted to get on Troubadour,” the North Carolina bull rider stated. “Everyone who has been getting on him and riding him have all been for a lot of points. He was the best bull in the pen and I wanted to pick him.”

Taking second place in Tacoma was 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi (Leme, SP, Brazil) who scored 260.5 points, adding $16,650.40 to his bank account and inching his way closer to the top of the 2009 Built Ford Tough World Standings. Finishing third was Team Enterprise rider Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) who totaled 260 points and collected a check for $16,500.40 while Brazilian superstar Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil) rode three bulls for 254.5 points and took home $6,476.40. Rounding out fifth place was 2008 PBR World Finals event champion Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) who scored 174.5 points in Tacoma and added $5,790.40 to his 2009 earnings.

The race for PBR’s million dollar world title takes the top 40 bull riders in the world to Albuquerque, N.M. for the Ty Murray Invitational, stop #16 on the prestigious BFTS tour. PBR will invade University of New Mexico’s The Pit on March 27-29, showcasing the best bull riders and the toughest bulls in the country. The VERSUS network airs PBR events every Saturday and Sunday evening. Be sure to check www.pbrnow.com for upcoming cities, ticket information, and complete broadcast times.

INJURY REPORT:
Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.) fractured his right femur during Saturday’s night round. On Sunday, he had surgery where they inserted a rod in to his femur. He will be out of competition for about six months.

Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.) dislocated his collarbone during round two. He went to the hospital for a CT scan and is questionable for next weekend’s event in Albuquerque.

Tacoma Invitational RESULTS
ROUND ONE: 1/2) Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) 87.75 points on Mr. Callville (Red Knection K Bulls), $2,340; 1/2) Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS) 87.75 points on Cool Cash (Don Kish Bucking Bulls), $2,340; 3) Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) 87.25 points on West Coast Offense (Don Kish Bucking Bulls), $1,170; 4/5/6) Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) 87 points on Splatter (Don Kish Bucking Bulls); 4/5/6) Robson Palermo (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil) 87 points on Look at Me (Corey & Horst/Mecedes Cattle Co.); 4/5/6) Kody Lostroh (Longmont, Colo.) 87 points on Crystal Ball (Don Kish Bucking Bulls).

BEHIND THE CHUTES:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s “Ride with the Best” Bonus:
Due to his round two win at the Pike Electric Invitational, Team Enterprise rider Renato Nunes (Buritama, SP, Brazil) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round one of the Tacoma Invitational. Because of his qualified ride on the bull, West Coast Offense, owned by Don Kish Bucking Bulls, Nunes was awarded the $5,000 bonus.

Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.) was eligible to compete for the $5,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car “Ride with the Best” bonus during round two of the Tacoma Invitational due to his round one win. McConnel rode the bull, Dirty Deal, owned by Don Kish Bucking Bulls, for the full eight seconds; therefore, he was awarded the $5,000 bonus.

As the winner of round two, Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) will be eligible for the bonus during round one at the 16th BFTS stop in Albuquerque, N.M.

Ford Truck Moment of Truth Bonus:
Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) was in the lead going into the Built Ford Tough Championship Round and ultimately won the Tacoma Invitational. He collected the $10,000 bonus. The bonus will return to $5,000 at next weekend’s event, the Sandia Resort & Casino presents the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. The bonus grows by $5,000 each week if it is not claimed. Once claimed, it returns to $5,000.

Ford F-150 Challenge:
As the Tacoma Invitational event winner, Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) has qualified for a chance to participate as a Ford F-150 Challenge contestant at the 2009 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, against all other 2009 Built Ford Tough Series event winners who qualify for the Finals. The Ford F-150 Challenge contestant who finishes the highest in the event aggregate during the 2009 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will win $50,000 towards the purchase of a brand-new 2009 F-150 truck.

Salem NationaLease Bull of the Event:
The bull, Troubadour, owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls, earned Bull of the Event honors with a score of 46.5 points in Tacoma. This honor is acknowledged by an award of $1,250 going to the top bull of each event as determined by the PBR judges’ bull score.

High-Marked Ride of the Event:
North Carolina’s Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.) recorded the high-marked ride of the Tacoma Invitational in Tacoma, Wash., after riding the bull, Troubadour, owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls, during the Built Ford Tough Championship Round. Canter received a score of 93.25 points.

Daisy Rookie of the Year Standings:
The 2009 Daisy Rookie of the Year race is heating up and as of the Tacoma Invitational, Kansas young gun Skeeter Kingsolver (Mclouth, Kan.) holds a slight lead over young Aussie Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS). A rider is considered a rookie in the year he debuts on the elite Built Ford Tough Series tour. The Daisy Rookie is determined by the rider who has won the most money during the year at all PBR events including Challenger events, International events, BFTS events, and the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over 1.7 million live event attendees each year with it multi-tiered event structure which includes the prestigious Built Ford Tough Series, the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.

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