After a huge weekend in Glendale, Arizona that shook up many places in the world standings leader board the top 35 bull riders in the world made their way here to the Denny Sandford Premiere Center for three days of non-stop action. Tonight kicked off three straight days of action where the sold-out crowds will see five rounds of Built Ford Tough Series Bull Riding action as another 15/15 Bucking Battle round will take place. After a very interesting first part of the season, anything was possible as the action kicked off earlier tonight.
As the opening ceremonies grew closer earlier tonight the electricity in the crowd was focused one one man’s name being called through the sound system inside of the arena. World number two Jess Lockwood made his much-anticipated return to the bull riding arena following an injury that has kept him out of action for most of the first half of the 2017 season. As many may remember, this is the exact venue that the young phenom made his Built Ford Tough Series debut just one year ago and now he comes in second in the world standings while chasing the hot Brazilian Eduardo Aparecido!
Guilherme Marchi Tries For Ride 598 Here In Sioux Falls
Photo Credit: Denise Hetland Photography
If the storyline of Jess Lockwood making his return was not big enough all those watching this weekend’s action live or from home knew that history could be made in Sioux Falls. One of the most fan friendly riders on the Built Ford Tough Series tour has a chance to do something that no others have done before him, gaining a Built Ford Tough Series tour 600th career qualified ride. This could be the weekend that the 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi could make this happen and, once again, cement his name in the record books going forward!
In tonight’s round one Guilherme Marchi’s match-up was slated to go his way if you looked at things on paper. In round one, he was going after his 598th career qualified ride while facing Lukas Banning Bucking Bulls’ Highway 37 which was thought to be one of the easier bulls to get by here in round one. Once things were all said and done, it was the powerful bovine athlete that would have the upper hand. That being said, Guilherme Marchi would not be able to earn his 598th ride with a minimal 38 point bull score that would leave him looking for answers heading into tomorrow night’s round two action!
Joao Ricardo Vieira Earns The Top Mark In Round One
Photo Credit: Denise Hetland Photography
From the moment that the doors opened up to let the fans inside of the Denny Sandford Center, the overwhelming feeling of excitement could be felt throughout the building. All that energy was transported to the 35 bull riders sitting in the locker room ready for battle in round one. Each of them knew they had one ob to do tonight, to get by round one with a qualified ride and carry a score over into the second round of the long three-day event here in Sioux Falls.
That being said, the match-up’s in round one were, if you could call them that, pretty rider friendly, although nothing is for sure on the elite Built Ford Tough Series as we all know. Tonight the sold-out crowd was only able to see six qualified rides made as the first round of the grueling three day/four round weekend got under way. Although five other rides were made tonight no one could match the 87.75 point score that Joao Ricardo Vieira was able to put up on the board atop of Dakota Rodeo/Herald Pro Bulls/Clay Struve/Chad Berger’s Bad Moon Rising for the round win and the much-needed confidence he is able to carry over into round two tomorrow night! See what he had to say when I was able to catch up with him down on the arena floor following his round one performance here in Sioux Falls in the interview below.
Complete Break-Down Of Round One Qualified Rides Posted Below:
Joao Ricardo Vieira (87.75) Dakota Buttar (86.50)
Troy Wilkinson (86.50) Robson Aragao (84.50)
Matt Triplett (82.75) Kaique Pacheco (69.00)
As round one comes to a close the entire Rodeo Round Up team keeps you up to date on all the happenings here in Sioux Falls while we watch the possibility of history being made here this weekend. We will bring all the breaking news and personal interviews to you throughout our coverage as well as updates from each round of action. Tonight we take a little break as Joe Nicols brings the house down as part of the musical entertainment the PBR brought this weekend while we look forward to seeing Warrant live following tomorrow night’s action from right here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota!
It is quite easy to follow all the breaking news and excitement with the Rodeo Round Up simply by copying this website into your favorites in your web browser for easy one-click access to event statistics. You can also like and follow us on Facebook here, or by liking and following us on Instagram at @rodeoroundup and on Twitter at @therodeoroundup. You can have easy access to all of the video interviews Jason does from all the events across the country as well by simply clicking the link HERE to be transferred to the Rodeo Round Up’s Youtube channel as well! We are proud to have Denise Hetland in the house to capture all the excitement from the weekend through her camera lens. You can see all of her shots by liking and following her on facebook by clicking the link here to be transferred to her facebook page. Jason has also made it easy for you to be a part of his interviews by opening up a listener comment line. If you have a question for a certain rodeo star simply call in and leave your name, where you are from, who the question is for and what your question is and he will do his best to get it answered for you during his interviews!
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