Kody Lostroh was back to his winning form in Anaheim, to win the event.
Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media photo
When asked to give a quote or two, Kody Lostroh quipped,
“I’m going to Disneyland!” Well, he’s not really, that’s just what he told me
when I spoke with him after his win in Anaheim. “That’s just what everybody
says,” he laughed. He certainly could have afforded to take the family, as he
walked out of the Honda Center with just under $35,000.
“The weekend went good. I’ve been hitting the dirt lately,
but it didn’t really feel as if I was riding bad, just for whatever reason I
wasn’t getting the job done. You know you’re just a hair away from turning it
around. I’m not worried about it. Everyone’s been making a big deal about it,
but that’s the way this sport goes. There’s ups and downs and it’s a fight
every weekend.”
Not this weekend. After round two Kody grabbed that top
spot, and stayed there through the remaining two rounds. But it was Travis
Briscoe who found himself with the round win on opening night. Briscoe covered
Hawaiian Ivory, a bull from Flying U/Cindy Rosser Bucking Bulls for a big 90.5.
Australia’s Brendon Clark had a good ride as well, and scored an 89.25 on
Cooper, owned by Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve.
Third went to Brian Canter on the strong SoulJa Boy with an
89. That bull is hauled by Jeff Robinson/Priest Creek Ranch. Tied for fourth
and fifth with 88 points were Lostroh and Aaron Roy. Lostroh covered the Don
Kish Bucking Bull Facial Fear, while Roy was successful on Show Time, owned by
D&H Cattle Company.
Chris Shivers fans only got to see him briefly this weekend.
He was hit hard three times on the way down by the D&H bull Kool-N-Sexy and
when our other reporter Linda Peterson later asked him if he was OK, he said
that he was going to be really sore Saturday. He was, bad enough to fly back
home. But apparently, by the time he got there and got off the plane, he
realized that he most probably could have ridden the other days. Shivers has
nothing to prove, and better that he wait one week and come back healthy, in my
opinion.
Round two saw 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi show the
form that won him that title. He rode D&H Cattle Company’s Slingers Back
for an even 88 points and the round win. Second was L.J. Jenkins. He covered
Wise One Willy, owned by Don Kish Bucking Bulls, for an 86.5. Third and fourth
found a tie between Josh Koschel and Roy. Koschel rode a Highland Cattle
Company bull, Shredder, and Roy mastered Fully Loaded, owned by Dakota
Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve. Both men were given scores of 86.25.
Canter had a scary wreck in this round that had the fans
gasping. He bucked off a bull owned by Champion Bucking Bulls, Pick A Spot, and
took a shot to the head when the bull stepped on him. It looked awful, but he
came out of it relatively unscathed and with a concussion, and rode the rest of
the event.
All new names for Anaheim hitting the top four in round
three. Robson Palermo rode The Deacon, owned by Ace of Spades Ranch to the win
with a score of 89.25. Elliott Jacoby was second with his score of 88.75. He
covered Yellow, owned by Alex Howser. There was a tie between third and fourth
between veteran Brian Herman and Sean Willingham, with both men scoring 88.5.
Herman rode a bull that had already been to the pay window, Cooper, and
Willingham conquered Shotgun Willy, owned by Holman Bucking Bulls.
Marchi had a tough time in the chutes with Life Sentence,
owned by Ace of Spades Ranch. The bull ducked and reared a couple of times, and
this was after Guilherme had had to pull his rope twice. Unable to get his hand
out of the rope, he said he “heard something snap” and was unable to ride in
the round. It is unknown if his wrist or hand is broken and X-rays will be
taken on Monday.
Travis Briscoe took advantage of the opportunity J.B. Mauney gave him and moved to the top of the BFTS standings.
Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media photo
Championship Round time, and Lostroh had the first pick. He
chose Tower 59, owned by Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve. When the dust
settled that proved to be an excellent decision. He won the short-go on this
bull with a score of 90.5. Skeeter Kingsolver grabbed Hawaiian Ivory, the bull
Briscoe won the first round on, and was second in the short-go. His score was
88.75. Third went to Briscoe with a score of 88. He rode the D&H Cattle
Company bull, Stubby. Fourth was Caleb Sanderson. He took a Don Kish Bucking
Bull, Little Juicy, and was given an 87.75 for his hard work. Right behind him
in fifth was Valdiron de Oliveira with a score of 87.5. He rode another Kish
bull, Necessary Evil.
So Lostroh won the Anaheim event for the second year in a
row. He did not even remember that he won last year until he was told that when
he got to the arena before the event started. Kingsolver was second, de
Oliveira third, Koschel fourth, and Sanderson fifth. All five of these me rode
all four of their bulls.
Canter suffered another concussion during the short-go, but
is expected to ride next week in Tampa. One who might not be so lucky is
Marchi. As previously stated, we are still waiting on X-ray results.
With five events in the bag for the season, the first cut is
coming up. Some of those men who are in trouble are Pete Farley, Kasey Hayes,
Brian Herman, and Rocky McDonald. With Herman having to fight his way back from
the Touring Pro Division to get back on the BFTS, he will talk things over with
his wife, but this might have been the last time we got to see him ride. At 39
years of age, Herman is not sure if he wants to fight it out to get back on the
tour. Whatever his decision, Brian has been a great member of the PBR family.
BFTS standings leader J.B. Mauney did not ride one bull in
Southern California. Even worse, he stayed on his three bulls for more than
seven seconds each time, only to be bucked off before the magic eight. Can you
say unhappy?
Because of the poor showing Mauney had in Anaheim, Travis
Briscoe, who seems to love the first of each season, took the lead in the BFTS
standings. J.B. is second, de Oliveira third, Marchi fourth, Shane Proctor
fifth, followed by Palermo, McKennon Wimberly, Kingsolver, Renato Nunes, and
Koschel.
Next week they travel across the country to Florida for the
sixth event of the season.
