Two one-day events took place this past weekend on the PBR tour. Each of these events consisted of one round and a short-go. The cowboys first traveled to Tampa, Florida for the Southern Ford Dealers Invitational.

Round one found Mighty Mike White on top after he covered Mule Train, owned by Robinson/Tedesco. White received an 88 score on Mule Train. Behind him were two 87.50 scores; Austin Meier on the Roy Carter bull Snaggle Rock and Robson Palermo on Boyd/Floyd/Paradise Farms’ Slip Knot. Another tie came for fourth and fifth as Travis Briscoe and Kasey Hayes each received an 87 for their trouble.

The bulls in the short-go proved to be too tough for most of the riders, as only two cowboys were able to ride their bulls. Justin McBride caused the confetti to fall when he scored a big 90.25 on Smash Hit. This bull is hauled by Diamond S Bucking Bulls. McBride had this bull last week in Charlotte, but the result was not the same. “When I drew him again I was determined to stay on for the full eight seconds,” a happy Justin commented.

The only other rider to cover his bull was Hayes. He rode the Robinson/Tedesco bull Barbosa to an 87.25.

The top bull score came from Chicken on a Chain, owned by Robinson/Tedesco. The bull was given an impressive 46.50 from the judges as he bucked off Meier.

The final five for Tampa were McBride, Hayes, White, and Meier and Palermo, who tied for fourth and fifth. With his win, McBride moved to the top of the Built Ford Tough Series standings.

The men then packed their gear bags and moved on to Atlanta, Georgia for the Atlanta Classic presented by Zaxby’s. Hayes continued his riding streak when he won the first round with an 89, as he covered White Diamond. That bull is owned by Berger/Dakota Cattle Company. Jason Bennett was second after he rode the Tony Shrader and Anchor Bull Company’s Encore to an 87.50. Last years’ Champion Adriano Moraes was third. He received an 86.50 on the Chad Berger/Larry Ryken bull, Rockin Robin. Tater Porter and Sean Willingham tied for fourth and fifth with scores of 86.25.

Hayes remained unstoppable. Kasey rode Sunshine to an 88.50 score, and the short-go win. As with McBride and Smash Hit the day before, Hayes had Sunshine in Charlotte as well, and he suffered the same result. “I got on him last week and he threw me,” he said. “This week I just wanted revenge.”

Only two other bull riders rode their short-go bull. Ross Coleman received an 87.75 on Cooter, who is owned by Chad Berger/Clay Struvie. Shane Proctor made it a threesome after he rode the anything but Just A Dream, a Frontier/Teague/Steiner bull to an 87.50.

The top five in the average were Hayes, Proctor, Coleman, Bennett, and Moraes.

Guilherme Marchi drew the Frontier and Teague Bucking Bull Big Bucks, but he was not able to get him ridden. Big Bucks was the highest scored bull however, with a 46.50.

Between Tampa and Atlanta, the young Hayes has won more money in this new season than he did in all of 2006. His take-home pay from Atlanta was a whopping $82,610! Kasey won a $50,000 Ford Moment of Truth bonus by going into the short-go the leader and then winning the event. On the next stop this weekend in Anaheim, California, the bonus will start over again at $5,000.

After the first seven events, the top five in the BFTS point standings are McBride, JB Mauney, Mike Lee (who came back to ride this weekend from a very scary wreck in Charlotte the week before resulting in a concussion) Marchi and Hayes. Notably absent in the top ten is the three-time World Champion Moraes.

Next week Linda Peterson and myself will be at the Anaheim event. We are really looking forward to the three days and seeing everyone again, and hope you enjoy our coverage.

Take care and God Bless,

Viva La Raza,

Barb.