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Guilherme Marchi wins his third event in 2008.
Andy Watson photo |
This past weekend found the bull riders in Iowa for the Des Moines Classic. Guilherme Marchi extended his lead in the Built Ford Tough Series standings, as he won his third event of the season. He is now ahead of second place Kody Lostroh by more than 3000 points, as he continues his march toward the 2008 PBR World Championship, something that has seen him as runner-up for the past three years in a row.
This event was an exciting one, with many good rides, as well as a couple of scary wrecks. Luke Snyder won round one, and it is good to see him continue his winning ways. Snyder rode a bull from Frontier Rodeo Company, Flash, to a 90.75. Adriano Moraes wants to prove that he can still be in the hunt and was second with a 90.25 on Evil Forces, owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Team Equine. Third was Kody Lostroh. He received an 88.75 after he rode the Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen bull Montego Bay. Austin Meier was fourth. He was able to ride the Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Texas to an 88.50.
L.J. Jenkins continued to be on a streak as he won the second round. He was able to cover Chad Berger/Denny Hawks’ Scaredy Cat to a big score of 92. Dustin Elliot was right behind Jenkins with a 91.75 after riding Walk the Line. Walk the Line is owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve. Tying for third and fourth were Brian Canter and Mike White with scores of 89.75. Canter rode Frontier Rodeo Company’s Flash (the bull that won the first round for Snyder) and White covered Splat Kat, owned by Danny Lemmons.
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Luke Snyder on his way to a 90.75 score in round one on Frontier Rodeo Company's Flash.
Andy Watson photo |
The Built Ford Tough Championship Round was won by Zack Brown. Another cowboy who has really been on a roll lately, Brown rode the great bull owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Julie Rosen, Sir Patrick to a 90.75. Behind him to be runner-up in the short-go was Harve Stewart. He got close with a 90.50 score on another good bull, Frontier/Teague/Ron White’s Nervous Water. The only other man to ride his bull in the Championship Round was Marchi, who rode Bad Yeller, owned by D&H Cattle Company to an 88.25 score.
The event win went to Marchi, with Brown second, Stewart third, Moraes fourth, and Clayton Foltyn fifth.
The high score bull of the event was Runyan, owned by D&H Cattle Company. He was given a score of 46.50.
The BFTS standings stayed the same as they were in Chicago. As previously mentioned, Marchi not only kept the top spot, he opened up his lead on the others. Lostroh is second to Marchi, Valdiron de Oliveira is third, J.B. Mauney fourth, and Jenkins fifth. Moraes moved up a bit more in the standings, and is now in 13th place. As one of the announcers (I think it was J.W. Hart) said, look out, because if Adriano gets on a roll there is no stopping him.
Unfortunately, there were two serious injuries once again this week. In a very frightening wreck, Kasey Hayes suffered a fracture of his C-6 vertebrae after landing directly on his head. He walked out – with a collar on around his neck – but will undergo surgery, if that has not happened already. He will be out of action for an undetermined amount of time.
Austin Meier was knocked unconscious in another terrifying incident. He was taken out of the arena on a board and went to the hospital for observation. He has a possible neck injury as well.
I hope that these two, as well as the other men that are out with injuries are back healthy soon. There is a small break in the action, with the next event being a one-day in San Antonio, Texas on 17th.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
