Texas bull riders eye $3.2 million purrse at Oct. 27-Nov. PBR world finals

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Oct. 27, 2005 - With final results in, nine Texas bull riders are among 45 ready to ride at the “Biggest Show on Dirt” during the 2005 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals, Oct 28 - Nov. 4 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Texans headed to Las Vegas are Jared Farley of Snyder, Cory McFadden of Coleman, Mike White of DeKalb, Ross Johnson of Alvord, Brian Herman of Victoria, and Mike Lee (who won the event last year) of Decatur. Three Brazilians, who also call Texas home when they are in the states are going, too: Adriano and Andre’ Moraes of Keller and Paulo Crimber of Fort Worth.

These individuals qualified for the finals by dollar amounts won at all of this year’s PBR tours, which include the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) presented by Wrangler, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, Enterprise Tour and Humps N’ Horns tour.

Two Texans will be missing the finals this year after making it for the past 11 years. Twin brothers Adam and Gilbert Carrillo of Stephenville did not qualify due to injuries sustained throughout the year. This leaves JW Hart, of Overbrook, Okla., as the only bull rider who has been to the finals every year. Hart, nicknamed the Ironman, holds the record for attending the most consecutive PBR televised events.

As the event grows in popularity, so does the prize money. In its 12th year, the 45 will compete for $3.2 million in prize money at the BFTS World Finals.

Two champions will be named at the event: PBR World Finals Champion and PBR World Champion. The difference is the world finals champion is the person who wins at the finals EVENT. The world champion is the rider who has accrued the most BFTS points throughout the year. Last year was the first time any individual (Mike Lee) won both titles.

Also, at this year’s finals, three legendary bulls will retire from competition ... Little Yellow Jacket, Blueberry Wine, and Hammer.

Little Yellow Jacket, a Brangus, has been ridden 13 out of 88 attempts with the highest point ride going to Michael Gaffney during an event at Nampa, Idaho, in 2004. This ride scored a 96.5 out of a possible 100 points (50 for the bull and 50 for the rider). LYJ, born in 1996, is owned by Joe Berger of North Dakota, Bernie Taupin of California, and Tom Teague of North Carolina and has been named the Bucking Bull of the Year three times.

Blueberry Wine, a Plummer/Brahman-cross born in 1996, has been ridden 9 out of 92 attempts, with Gilbert Carrillo riding him to the highest point ride (96.0) at an Albuquerque, N.M., event in 2002. Blueberry Wine is owned by Chad and Robbie Herrington of Mont Belvieu, Texas.

The youngest of the three bulls to retire is Hammer. Born in 1999, Hammer is a Brahman/Hereford-cross and has been ridden 12 out of 53 attempts. His highest point ride recorded on Hammer was 92.5 at two events in 2003. The first was Billy Robinson in Nashville, Tenn in 2003, and the second by Owen Washburn in Bossier City, La. Hammer is owned by Tony Sharp of Mississippi and Craig Zaunbrecher of Louisiana.

Another highlight during the week will be the American Bucking Bull Incorporated (ABBI) World Bucking Bull Classic. This event will showcase the top 50 bucking 3- and 4-year-old bulls in the world, with the winner taking $150,000. Following the Classic will be the ABBI World Finals Bull Sale.

At the PBR world finals event, fans from across the country will be able to not only watch the bull riding, but to also see cowboy mounted shooting, national bullfighting championship, and mutton bustin’, among several other activities.

But, if making a trip to Vegas is not in the plans, it will be televised on OLN daily; and on Sunday, Oct. 30, the competition will be aired at 3 p.m. on NBC.