After a round one where twelve of the top thirty-five bull riders in the world managed to cover their bovine competitors for the required eight seconds everyone looked forward to the championship Saturday that was about to take place. The tension inside of the Honda Center tonight was something that we have not yet seen in the early stages of the 2017 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series season as everyone knew what was on the line after the final bull was bucked in Anaheim, California.
Throughout the first five events of the season we have seen many contestants using some of their five exemptions that they have due to injury as well as many alternates competing for those currently out due to injuries. That being said, tonight was the last chance for those sitting outside of the top thirty in the world standings to make a move to guarantee an invite to remain on the elite tour that we call the Built Ford Tough Series. As we all know the cuts are hard on the cowboys but on the other hand, gives them the fire to give the effort they need to earn their way back on tour as well!
Luis Blanco Out Rides All Others To Earn The Round Two Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Once the action began down on the arena floor it was time for these cowboys behind the bucking chutes to focus on the task that was placed before them, the bovine athletes of the PBR. Tonight, more than most nights, was very important for many of the bull riders as they were not only riding for money and points but to remain on the exclusive Built Ford Tough Series tour. Although many stepped up, the ride scores were not where they needed to be to remain on tour as round two concluded.
After all was said and done the anticipation grew to nervousness as the final cuts were announced to the crowd. Those cut from the Built Ford Tough Series tonight included some fantastic bull riders but you can bet that these cowboys will do what it takes to earn their spot back! In round two there were 9 of the 35 bull riders here that would be able to tame their bovine counterparts but no one could put up the score that Luis Blanco did aboard JD Nix Rodeo Company ‘s Sosa’s Alley Cat for 87.75 points and the round two win here in Anaheim!
Complete List Of Qualified Rides In Round Tow Posted Below:
Luis Blanco (87.75) Stetson Lawrence (87.50)
Chase Outlaw (87.50) Silvano Alves (87.00)
Rubens Barbosa (86.00) Shane Proctor (85.75)
Cody Heffernan (85.00) Dakota Buttar (83.25)
Matt Triplett (82.00)
Rubens Barbosa Dominates The Field For The Championship Round Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
The west coast run has definitely been good to most of the top bull riding athletes in the world over the past two weekends here in California and tonight was no exception! After an intense two rounds of qualifying the field was set for the top fifteen to come back to the championship round of the Frontier Communications Showdown. Although many were nursing nagging injuries some of these bull riders came into the round feeling like they were on top of the world.
Tonight the sold out crowd inside the Honda Center along with the thousands watching on PBR Live and CBS Sports Network had the honor of seeing some of the best bovine athletes in the world compete against many of the top bull riders on the planet. Legendary bucking bull Asteroid as well as defending world champion Sweet Pro’s Bruiser were in the house but the cowboys were as well. Tonight there was only 1 of those 15 competing that were able to make the whistle as no one could match the 85.50 point ride that Rubens Barbosa put up against D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Company’s Cracker Breaker to take home the championship round win!
Shane Proctor Takes Home The Frontier Communications Showdown Event Title
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Even though cuts were made and fantastic bull riders were cut from the tour there were also many moments of greatness throughout the weekend. The qualified ride percentages from each night, as well as last weekend in Sacramento, were totals that we have rarely seen over the entire lifespan of the PBR and the return of many fan favorite bull riders made these past two weekends something that will not soon be forgotten and will go down in the history books as some of the best bull riding that we have seen in quite some time!
After all was said and done it was time to crown the new 2017 Frontier Communications Showdown event champion. Shane Proctor would rise to the top after claiming 172.50 points on the weekend after going a solid 2-for-3 and outlasting the rest of his competition here in Anaheim. The path to the event win was not easy as some of the rankest bucking bulls were placed under him but that not going to stop this determined cowboy here this weekend.
After a fantastic run here out on the west coast we will head east next weekend and stake our claim in the great Midwest as we head to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri for the Kansas City Invitational Presented By Express Employment Professionals. Now that the first cut of the season is made, those still on tour can take a little breath of fresh air and move forward as we head to the second major of the season in Arlington, Texas in just two short weeks!
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