The Springfield Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series stop has proved to be too much for the top 35 bull riders in the world to handle thus far as we headed into the Championship Sunday rounds at the JQH Arena. Through the first two rounds and the 15/15 there have only been 16 qualified rides out of a total of 91 outs. To say that the cowboys have been completely outmatched would be an understatement. This afternoon the bull riders sitting in the locker room vowed to change the tide and leave without a sour taste in their mouths.
Today’s round three will have a much different feel to it as many of the top bull riders were knocked out, injured or banged up pretty good. Before the round began it was announced that Guilherme Marchi would in fact miss the rest of the action this weekend after being injuring his right knee last night. Shane Proctor would also join that list after not passing his concussion protocol that he went through prior to the start of tonight’s round. He will join a man in Cooper Davis who was forced to sit out starting in last night’s round two that caused him to loose the world championship lead to Brazilian Kaique Pacheco. The injury list surely gave some other bull riders a huge chance at making the championship round.
Gage Gay Wins Round Three And Heads To Championship Round
Photo Credit: Andy Watson/ Bull Stock Media
Once the doors opened and the fans poured in the JQH Arena it was time for the third round of competition to began that would set the stage for the Championship Round that would happen later in the day. That being said it was a different look as injuries took their toll on the top 35 in the world after last night’s second round here at the PFIWestern.com Invitational. Everyone in the locker room knew what they had to do to change the weekend around in their favor as the bovine power has proved to be more than they could handle during the first two rounds.
Although some of the fans favorites were out of competition there was still plenty for the sold out crowd to cheer about on a Sunday afternoon. Once the last bull was bucked and the field was finalized for the championship round it would be only six riders that would be able to last the mandatory eight second to earn a qualified ride and put some points on the board. Although there were 5 other rides no one could fair better that Gage Gay who took home the round win with an 88.25 point ride aboard Let R Bucking Bulls/Long Ranch’s Flight Plan.
Complete Qualified Rides List From Round Three:
Gage Gay (88.25) Tyler Harr (85.75) Stetson Lawrence (85.50) Jess Lockwood (84.75) Ryan Dirteater (80.25) Silvano Alves (79.75)
Ryan Dirteater Stakes Championship Round Winning Ride
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
After the first three rounds were concluded the field was set for the championship round here in Springfield, Missouri for the PFIWestern.com Invitational. To say that the top 35 bull riders in the world would be happy to get out of the JQH Arena ASAP would be an understatement but before that could happen there was one round remaining to see who would be crowned the overall event champion and take home the buckle and points that come with it.
In today’s championship round it would be the top 15 bull riders of the first three rounds combined who would be paired up with 15 of the best bucking bulls from throughout the 2016 season thus far. After the round began it was evident that the pattern of the weekend would continue during this round as well. That being said there were 3 riders who would do what needed to be done to earn a qualified ride but no one match the efforts put up by Ryan Dirteater as he claimed the championship round victory with an 86.75 point ride atop Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve’s Jack Daniel’s After Party!
Ryan Dirteater Wins The PFIWestern.com Invitational
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Once all the bulls bucked and the lights dimmed on the arena floor the JQH Arena closed its doors on the 2016 edition of the PFIWestern.com Invitational. After five rounds of some of the best bull riding in the world, four of them being a part of this event, it was time to crown an event champion in the middle of the arena atop the ever so famous “shark cage.” Tonight that would be a young man that would manage to go a staggering 4-for-4 for a total of 335.75 points on a weekend that was one of the toughest on the so far this season. This weekend’s dominating performance shoots him all the up to the number seven spot in the world standings heading into next weekend’s event in Charlotte, NC!
That man standing tall above all others this fateful Sunday afternoon would be non other than The Cherokee Kid Ryan Dirteater. Taking home the event win was an important piece of the puzzle for him in his quest to make a run at the 2016 World Championship title this coming November. With Cooper Davis out and many of the top 10 beat up, bruised or completely out of action the world standings look very different from what they were three short days ago!
I think it is safe to say that the top 35 bull riders in the world are breathing a sigh of relief now that this weekend’s events are behind them. Springfield was one of the most grueling events thus far in the 2016 Built Ford Tough Series season and things will not get any easier on the road to the PBR World Finals this November in Las Vegas! Next week we head to Charlotte, NC for the two-day Charlotte Invitational event brought to you by Cooper Tires. This is where these guys will get a little break as it is ONLY a two-day event and will not feature any extra rounds of competition.
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