If the PBR Copenhagen Bull Riding Invitational held in Atlanta this last weekend was any example, PBR fans will be treated to events that absolutely sizzle with excitement in 2008. At last, our Champions are back!
In the Short Go, three former World Champions fought for position, Two time World Champion Chris Shivers, three time World Champion Adriano Moraes and 2004 World Champion Mike Lee. With a spectacular 90.25 ride Mike Lee was the one who ended up taking home the event title after topping Diamond S Bucking Bulls Hot Stuff.
It was great to see Moraes and Shivers start the season on a high note. Moraes ended the event tied for second with Paulo Crimber. Chris Shivers, while he bucked off in the Championship Round, was the ‘old Chris’ again, riding his first two bulls as only Shivers can do and looks to be in top form and a major contender this season.
Winning Round One was Kody Lostroh aboard Tito Martinez’s Dark Side with a score of 88.50 followed by Wiley Petersen, the 2007 World Finals event winner, who earned 87.75 aboard Boyd/Floyd Bull Company’s Hot Pistol. As the event winner of the Finals, Petersen was also riding for the Enterprise Ride with the Best $5000 bonus. His victory over Hot Pistol earned him this bonus.
Both men went on to ride in Round Two and qualify for the Championship Round. Unfortunately Lohstroh was unable to stick the ride on his draw, Hot Pistol, and Petersen, whose bull , Rafter 7R’s Gnash garnered the high bull score of the event, a 45, was also unable to complete his ride. Surprisingly, top rated bull riders Guillerme Marchi and J.B. Mauny both bucked off during Round two of the event and did not make the Championship go-round.
Brian Canter came back in great form for this first event of the season. It didn’t look good for Canter when after riding his bull, Tito Martinez’s Platinum, to a score of 83, the bull stepped on his riding arm. Canter left the arena in obvious pain, but true to form, showed up ready to ride in Round Two. Canter took third place in Round Two on Hebert Bucking Bull’s Start Me Up, with 87 points and ended the event in fourth place overall after riding Boyd/Floyd Bull Company’s Lost in Paradise to a score of 87.50.
Travis Briscoe took the award for most hang ups at this event! Briscoe who was able to ride all three of his bulls and endup in fifth place overall, not only got hung up at the end of his first ride, but also his second ride and his third ride! Fortunately he was not injured.
Next weekend is the Versus Invitational at Madison Square Garden. This will be the first time the new draw system will take place for the bulls. The new system is for three day events only, and allows the cowboys to pick their bulls for Round Two in order of their own scores, giving the top placed cowboy first pick, the second place second pick and so on. I for one, am excited about this new format and look forward to seeing it in action. It will be interesting to see which cowboys pick which bulls.
So, who will be the Champ in 2008? Current World Champion Justin McBride is out for six months after shoulder surgery. Will that stop him? The way he rides, he could come back and win yet again! Or will it be Marchi, who has been the McBride’smaid (pardon the pun) several times already and is SO ready to win a Championship Buckle. Is this J.B.’s year? Or is it Brian Canter’s or Matt Bohon’s? Perhaps it will be Sean Willingham who emerges as the Champ, or Kody Lohstroh. Yes, 2008 promises to be the best ever for the PBR and I can’t wait to see what happens.
Until next time….
Linda Peterson
Lpeterson2223@charter.net
Photos courtesy of Andy Watson
