Ft. Worth, TX – Presented by Tuff Hedeman’s Championship Bull Riding (CBR), the Youth Bull Riding World Finals crowned 6 new World Champions on Saturday night at the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The four round championships are an annual event held in Ft. Worth, TX that bring in America’s top youth athletes from coast to coast. Over 320 cowboys and cowgirls ages 4 – 19, competed for over $67, 000 in monies and prizes. Each winner receives a check and a hand engraved trophy buckle from Hy O Silver Company. YBRF consists of 6 events including Mutton Bustin, Calf Riding, Jr. and Sr. Steer Riding, Pee Wee Bull Riding and Open Bull Riding.
Winning big struck twice for Midland, TX cowboy Wrangler Dunda. The 18 year old cowboy was the only bull rider to ride three bulls in the 2009 Youth Bull Riding World Finals. He posted scores of 76, 80, and 75 to give him a 231.0 heading into the championship round where he bucked off. Dunda accumulated enough points to be crowned Youth Bull Riding’s World Champion for the second year. Dunda, the subject of a television reality show featuring youth bull riding, represents the American Junior Bull Riding Association, Texas Youth Bull Riding Association and the Texas High School Rodeo Association. Known among rodeo circles as one of the West Texas Bad Boys, Dunda has already taken a shot at riding on the professional tours. He has earned his qualification card in both the CBR and PBR and plans to continue riding in both. Dunda credits his dad Gary and his mom Dee Dee for his success. He's been riding something ever since his father first put him on a sheep when he was 2. Since then, he has climbed the categories – riding calves, junior steers, pee wee bulls and now full-sized bulls. Riding with a shoulder injury Wrangler said he did the one thing the doctor told him not to do “land on my shoulder. The YBR is a great organization and the bulls were great this year, I got out of position and just couldn’t get back center on my last bull”, said the two time World Champion”. Wrangler is expecting some serious rehabilitation time so he plans to head back to Midland immediately. Dunda won over $1,200 and a trophy buckle from Hy O Silver.
YBRWF 2009 World Champions
Matt Birdwell, Bronson, Texas Pee Wee Bulls 224.5
Jayden Roberts, Comanche, TX Sr. Steer Riding 285.0
Cannon Cravens, Porum, OK Calf Riding 282.0
Boudreaux Campbell, Plantersville, TX Jr. Steer Riding 292.0
Koltin Hevalow, Smithville, MO Mutton Busting 266.0
The YBR World Finals are structured under the Texas Youth Bull Riders, Inc., a Non-profit 501 c 3 organization based in Fort Worth, Texas. Since its inception in 2007, Andy Carter and Mike Vergari have managed the YBR World Finals. The YBR World Finals was founded on the belief that every child's dream can come true if only given something to believe in. It is a three long round event with a fourth championship “short go” performance on Saturday, August 8, 2009.
The mission of the YBRF is to host the richest Youth Bull Riding in history, and crown the World Champion Youth Bull Riders. YBRF strives to bring awareness and fundraising efforts to children's health care issues. There is approximately 27-plus Youth Bull Riding associations across the United States. Unlike Little League Baseball and many other youth activities, there is not a legitimate governing body that brings these kids together to compete at a level such as the World Series. This is where the YBRWF comes into play. YBRWF brings the top athletes from around the country (ranging in age from 4 to 19-yrs) together to compete and when the dust settles at the Will Rogers Coliseum and the bulls are back in the pens, the WORLD CHAMPIONS are determined.
