The time of year is now upon each and every one of us as we make the trek west to the city of Las Vegas to begin the PBR World Finals Week festivities. The Rodeo Round Up team began making their way as well a week earlier than normal since there is a new event that takes place leading up to the 2016 Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Finals at the new T-Mobile Arena. The venue change was not the only huge change that this organization made for the 2016 season finale.
This year brings a new twist and some extra excitement for those fans flocking to Sin City for the World Finals happenings. The PBR has decided to bring the BlueDEF Velocity Tour Finals to the South Point Equestrian Arena during the World Finals Week. That being said the new excitement level has to do with the final roster for the 2016 PBR World Finals. The top two cowboys from the entire event earn the last two spots that needed to be filled for the beginning of the World Finals event on Wednesday night!
Juliano Antonio Da Silva Earns The Round One Win
Photo Credit: Debbie Anthony
The first round of action began Saturday night across town at the South Point Hotel and Casino Equestrian Arena with solid rides and some emotional moments. Everyone in attendance and watching live on PBR Live witnessed what true heart and soul of a professional bull rider is. All of the bull riders competing knew that they had to put in 100% effort and try as two precious spots were still open for the 2016 PBR World Finals event that would start in just a couple of days as round one begins Wednesday night.
Saturday night’s round one showed what can be done when bull riders have their backs against the wall when the BlueDEF Tour Finals kicked off in grand style. Once the round was done and over with it would be a total of 11 riders who would be able to make the eight second whistle and carry a score into the second round. While the 11 were sitting in a good spot with a score on the board no one could match the efforts put out by Brazilian Juliano Antonio Da Silva who managed to put up a domination 89.50 point ride aboard D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Company’s Cracker Breaker. Built Ford Tough veteran Chase Outlaw was close behind with a 88.50 point ride heading into the second and Championship Rounds of competition.
Neil Holmes Wins Round Two Of The BlueDEF Finals In Las Vegas
Photo Credit: Debbie Anthony
Once the fans started filing into the South Point Equestrian Arena Sunday night the tension in the air could be felt no matter where you were at. The night before 11 of the top bull riders in the world were able to last the required eight seconds to earn a qualified score that they carried into tonight’s final rounds. The race to the finals championship was still wide open as 10 could have the chance to qualify for the Championship Round that would determine our event champion.
Last night was a do or die night for many of the cowboys that either qualified for the Finals or that were invited to compete at the finals for their own chance to be a part of the main event which is the PBR World Finals later in the week. Last night the hype proved to be only that as those invited managed to put up lack luster performances and would be on the outside looking in. Nonetheless, there were 8 bull riders that would obtain a score in round two which would possibly help them make the championship round of the BlueDEF Velocity Tour Finals. With that being said, no one could manage to outscore the solid ride that Neil Holmes put up against Rocking C Bucking Bulls/Jenkins/John Cook’s Gambini for an 88 point ride making tomorrow’s round three and championship rounds something that you did not want to miss!
Chase Outlaw Wins Round Three Earlier Tonight
Photo Credit: Debbie Anthony
After a night where only 8 riders were able to make it to the eight second mark the field coming into the final and championship rounds was wide open. Just 24 short hours ago there were 18 riders that had qualified rides on the books so the Championship round was officially full but any one of the 40 riders here in round three had a very good chance on earning one of those spots. That is only because only one rider, Dener Barbosa, who would come into the round with two qualified rides.
Tonight was treated just like any round one could be treated as the BlueDEF Finals was going to end in dramatic fashion. After the first two rounds 16 of the 18 riders on the board were all within 9 points of each other and every rider knew they still had a shot at making the Championship Round. Once the round concluded there would be 12 riders that would make the buzzer but no one could put out the effort that Chase Outlaw put on as he matched up with Cornwell Bucking Bulls’ Tom Horn for an 87.50 point ride while earning a spot in the championship round!
Nathan Schaper Takes Home The Championship Round Win
Photo Credit: Debbie Anthony
Once the field of contestants was narrowed down to the 10 that still had an opportunity to qualify for the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series World Finals was set it was time for the Championship Round to begin. This final round would determine where the bull riders would finish in the Finals event and for the overall year point standings as well. The top two from this event would earn an invite to take one of the last two spots in the top 35 roster and close out the list of contestants competing at the World Finals beginning Wednesday evening.
The Championship Round would not get any easier as the bovine athletes had something to prove as well as the 2016 season closes out. This round was extremely tough on the cowboys as only 3 of the 10 riders that were able to make it here were able to cover they counterparts for the required eight seconds of fury. That being said Nathan Schaper was able to come out on top of the other 2 riders with an awesome 87 point ride aboard BMC Bucking Bulls/Jeff Robinson’s King Buck!
Once things were said and done it was apparent who’s season would come to an end abruptly and who would be able to make the trip across town to be part of history. This year the Professional Bull Riders organization would make a venue change and bring the Built Ford Tough Series World Finals to the T-Mobile Arena for a memorable five days of bull riding action and top notch multi genre musical performances. To say that this will make history is an absolute understatement.
Everything that happened this weekend lead up to who would be able to continue their season and who would be watching from the stands. After all was said and done it would be a slew of those competing, due to those already qualified, who would move in and compete at the PBR World Finals. It is all being figured out as we speak and the PBR is trying to determine who will be moving on as we speak. That being said to find the final roster you will need to go to PBR.com once everything is made official. Chase Outlaw put on a dominating performance putting up a total of 261 points after going 3 for 4 to win the finals event and the BlueDEF World Championship while Nathan Schaper followed suit putting up 247.50 points after also going 3 for 4 to earn a birth at the PBR World Finals!
As we look ahead to the beginning of the World Finals run our entire Rodeo Round Up team is making their way towards Las Vegas. Throughout the week we will be bringing you in depth coverage of all things happening along with special interviews, round recaps and injury updates as they happen. Each day we will bring a new feature as the “Before The Buck” pre-show will be taped and aired daily bringing each and every one of you up to date as any late breaking news happens!
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. 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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