As the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series rolled into Albuquerque for the 21st straight year the Ty Murray Invitational history was turned upside down. Historically, the qualified rides that are made here are very few and far between but this weekend surprised everyone, including the bull riders themselves. After a round one where fifteen riders made it to the eight-second buzzer and eleven in round two, hopes were high that the luck would continue in today’s third and championship rounds.
Coming into this afternoon’s start, many of the bovine athletes that fill the field are those that have been seen throughout the first two rounds of competition. That being said, the scales are tipped to allow the top 35 bull riders in the world to have another decent round of qualified rides. Those that do advance to the championship round better have their A games on as the bucking bulls in the final round will prove to be tough to get by and will not give the fifteen competing any slack.
Ryan Dirteater Takes Home The Round Three Win In Albuquerque
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Confidence was high among the bull riders heading into this afternoon’s third round here at the “The Pit”, The WisePies Arena, as the action began down on the arena floor. Once the bull riding began the sold-out championship Sunday crowd rose to their feet and was recognizably one of the loudest and energetic crowds that we have seen on tour so far this season. As the round began those riders on the bottom of the field faced being taken off tour if they could not gain any points from the event this weekend.
As the round began it was apparent from early on that the qualified rides this afternoon would be much the same as the first two previous rounds which has not happened in many years here in Albuquerque. The qualified rides were spread out nicely throughout the round keeping the energetic fans happy as the afternoon progressed. After things were all said and done the field was set for the championship round after 9 qualified rides with Ryan Dirteater winning the round with a beautiful 87.50 point ride aboard Martinez Bucking Bulls, LLC’s Damn Frustrating.
Complete Break-Down Of Qualified Rides In Round Three Posted Below:
Ryan Dirteater (87.50) Troy Wilkinson (87.25)
Matt Triplett (86.75) Dener Barbosa (86.50)
Cody Nance (86.25) Luis Blanco (86.25)
Guilherme Marchi (85.25) Shane Proctor (84.75)
Derek Kolbaba (84.50)
Stormy Wing Stuns Everyone With A Championship Round Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
Once the three qualifying rounds were completed it was time to set the field for the Ty Murray Invitational Championship Round as the top fifteen riders from the event would go head to head to determine who would take home the event title. As the cowboys walked up to the shark cage to pick their opponents all eyes were on who would be the unlucky one to square off against Pearl Harbor as he made his return to competition. That man today would be Stormy Wing, which was thought to make a possible history-making match-up!
The championship round here in Albuquerque would be one that fans across the world would remember for, at least, the rest of the season, as a turning point for a few bull riders in their chase towards the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas. Once all the attempts were made there would be two of the fifteen riders that would be able to put up a qualified ride on the board. Stormy Wing would eventually take home the championship round victory with a huge and history making ride of 95.25 points atop of D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Company’s world champion bucking bull Sweet Pro’s Bruiser.
Stormy Wing Celebrates His 2017 Ty Murray Invitational Win
Photo Credit: Andy Watson / Bull Stock Media
This weekend gave us all some great bull riding action here at “The Pit” with many qualified rides that we normally do not see here in Albuquerque. History has been that there are less than ten qualified rides throughout each round but this weekend changed the tides as the cowboys came full of energy and confidence which showed in their performances down on the arena floor. The match-ups that we saw were amazing and our hats go off to the bull riders, the stock contractors and the bucking bulls themselves on a job well done this weekend!
This afternoon the marquee match-ups took center stage but once things were all said and done it was time to celebrate down on the arena floor. Once the dust settled and the stage was set it was time to introduce the sold-out crowd and those watching at home to your 2017 Ty Murray Invitational event champion. After going a solid 3-for-4 and total points Stormy Wing would take home the event title and head to Glendale riding high on a wave of emotion and confidence!
Now that the weekend is over here in Albuquerque, we begin to look ahead to the remaining events leading up to the much-needed summer break. Next week the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series heads to Glendale, Arizona and the Gila River Arena for the Ak-Chin Invitational. We all know that bovine power out west has been tough on the cowboys and I would expect no less as we begin the action Saturday night on the road to the world championship title that these 35 bull riders are chasing.
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