National Western Stock Show Pro Bull Riding Finals

You can always count on the PBR to put on an elaborate show!  Loud music, pyrotechnics and excitement growing as the some of the best bull riders join with the toughest bulls meet for the contest of their lives! Just 8 seconds on board can be the difference between victory or defeat.  But that 8 seconds can be the absolute test of a lifetime for these cowboys and a long time to hold your breath as you watch in anticipation for what could come. 
 
The show begins as the lights go off in the coliseum.  Suddenly there’s a ring of fire filled with cowboys in their chaps and cowboy hats, awaiting the introduction of the men leading tonight’s competition. The cowboys in the top position were honored with a spotlight introduction before the US flag is presented by Brooklyn Covelli on a white horse in the spotlight.  All the cowboys removed their hats for the anthem sung by our local country artist Buckstein, whose deep voice smoothly resonated over the speakers something beautiful. Finally it was time for the action we’d all been waiting for.  Monday and Tuesday were the semi-finals leading up to Wednesday’s competition and tonight it was time for the showdown.There were 4 Flights of bull riding throughout the evening with these cowboys giving everything that they’ve got.  
 
Between bull riding there were finals for the Team Penning Event with cowboys and cowgirls of all ages trying to get their random selected 3 cattle out of the 30 cattle in the arena, sorted out and pushed into a pen at the opposite end.  They had split second timing and were a sight to behold with the way they worked with their skilled horses to pull out the one bovine sporting their number.
 
Matt Merrit entertained the crowd from the arena with his jokes and fine dance moves.  Matt was sponsored by Cooper Tires who also donated a gorgeous buckle to be given to the Top PBR Fan.  Young Mason Hines was the lucky recipient.  A cowboy attending the PBR Finals with his mom while dad’s deployed.  They were face-timing so his dad could see his son presented with the buckle.  Mason is one proud cowboy!
 
We were also entertained by a six horse hitch of Clydesdales from the Broken Spoke Clydesdale from Winfield, Kansas and the J.E. Dunn Stagecoach.
 
By the end of the competition Taylor Toves was crowned the victor with a score of 177.50!  Boudreaux Campbell was second with 176.00, Marcus Mast was third with 173.00 and Andrew Alvidrez was forth with 170.50.  And that put the National Western Stock Show Professional Bullriding Finals in the books for 2020.
 
Stay tuned for more coverage of the National Western Stock Show!
Xposer Magazine… where you go to be scene!
 
 

Photos and article by: Melissa Polk

 

 

Let’s take a moment to honor those who risk their lives to show us a good time! 

 

Photos by: Curt Thompson