Texas well represented at PBR finals

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Nov. 17, 2005 - The chute gates have closed on the 2005 Built Ford Tough (BFT) Professional Bull Riders (PBR) season that ended with a nail-biting final round in Las Vegas. 

Justin McBride from Elk City, Okla. was the man to win the covenant PBR World Champion buckle and over $479,000 in prize money for the year.

Texas was well represented at the finals with 14 Texans placing in the top 45 for the year end standings.

Guilherme Marchi finished second in the year-end standings, with over $488,000 in winnings. He won the BFT finals event in Las Vegas, giving McBride a run for the money, but finished in the runner-up spot for the year. He was also one of three riders to ride their bull in the short-go round. When in the states, this Brazilian calls the North Texas town of Keller home. 

Greg Potter of Whitt finished the year in fifth place, winning over $144,000. 

Another Brazilian who also calls Texas home placed ninth for the year. Paulo Crimber, known for his dance moves after successfully riding a bull, won over $106,000 for the year. 

Adriano Moraes of Keller finished in 14th place, with his best finish being in the seventh round, placing second.

Fellow Brazilian Ednei Caminhas of Lewisville ending the year in 15th place. His best finish at the finals was eighth. 

Australian Jared Farley, who lives in Snyder, won over $45,000 and placed 17th.

Coleman’s Cory McFadden qualified for his fourth PBR World Finals and rode his way to the 22nd position, winning over $141,000 for the year.

Another Moraes brother, Allan, also of Keller, ended the season in 25th position with just over $52,000 in prize money. 

DeKalb’s Mike White, who was hurt for most of the season, still made it to the finals and won over $102,000 for the year. He finished in 27th position. 

Ross Johnson of Alvord rode to over $90,000 in winnings for the year and finished in the 30th spot.

One of the tour veterans is Brian “Pee Wee” Herman of Victoria. Herman won over $89,000 and finished in the 31st position. He placed second in two rounds at the finals.

Last year’s champion, Mike Lee of Alvord, had a rough season due to injuries. He only competed in nine events but still managed to win over $80,000 and finish the season in the 33rd position.

Another Brazilian living in Keller, and finishing 43rd, was Fabricio Alves, who won over $145,000. Alves won the second round at the finals with a 88.25 point ride aboard Ladies Man owned by Owen Washburn and the 5 Ladies.

Rounding out the Texans in the year end top 45 is Dave Samsel of Stephenville. Samsel finished 44th and won over $20,000. He did not compete in Las Vegas.

Another Moraes, Andre’, was an alternate at the finals but was able to compete after someone was injured and unable to ride. He placed second in the first round and won the third round.

The 2005 season is over but the 2006 season begins this weekend (Nov. 19-20) with the Mohegan Sun Invitational in Uncasville, Conn.