Champion bulls make debut at PBR Finals

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Nov. 18, 2004 - New attractions at this year's Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) finals were the first-ever Bucking Bull Classic, and World Finals Futurity.

The classic featured the top 3- and 4-year-old bulls ridden by 45 contestants from the PBR's Enterprise Tour. The top bull was Big Deal, earning $108,000 after scoring 272.75 points for two rounds.

The futurity showcased 2-year-old bucking bulls, who where born between Jan. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2002. These bulls were bucked with a mechanical "dummy" which imitates a bull rider, and is programmed to fall off automatically after six seconds has elapsed. There were 61 entries and when it was all said and done, Stray Kitty owned by D & H Cattle Company's (Dillion and H.D. Page of Ardmore, Okla.) won the $20,000 paycheck. D & H were also honored with the Stock Contractor of the Year. This was the fourth consecutive year for the father/son team.

Also, a first at the finals was the World Bullfighting Championships (WBC). Mike Matt of Stuart, Okla., fought his way to $15,000, a Bob Berg trophy buckle, and a Tony Chytka sculpture. The top four finishers were Sam Gress of Hutchinson, Kan.; $10,000; Andy Burrelle of Amarillo, $6,250; and Donny Sparks of DeKalb, $6,250. The WBC is a 40-second freestyle competition which allows bullfighters to demonstrate their skills against Mexican fighting bulls.

World Champion Bull honors, for the third consecutive year, went to Little Yellow Jacket, owned in partnership by Joe and Nevada Berger/Tom Teague/-Bernie Taupin. Little Yellow Jacket has only been ridden 10 times in 73 BFTS attempts to an average score of 93 points. The bull was ridden in the final round at the PBR finals by Michael Gaffney of Albuquerque, N.M. for a score of 93.75, which tied Mike Lee's ride on Mossy Oak Mudslinger, also in the final round.

Gaffney also rode the Brangus bull earlier in the season to a 96.5 point ride. Both Lee, who claimed the PBR World Champion title at the Oct. 31 finals, and Gaffney were awarded the Brent Thurman/Lane Frost High Marked World Finals Ride Award. Thurman and Frost were bullriders who lost their lives while riding bulls.