Daily Archives: January 25, 2010

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Trevor Brazile made history just one month ago when he won his second world tiedown roping championship and record seventh world all-around title at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The only disappointment he mentioned in Las Vegas was his performance in team roping, and he’s on a mission to get back to rodeo’s Super Bowl in that event with partner Patrick Smith.

On Saturday night, the two blazed to the lead in the first round of team roping with a 5.0-second run. They’ll hope for another good run on Sunday to make the top-12 finals on Feb. 7. Earlier, in the matinee performance, Derrick Begay and Cesar de la Cruz, both of Arizona, went to the lead in the average on two steers with their second straight 5.2-second run of the weekend…(click here for full results

When the Professional Bull Riders tour stops at Cowboys Stadium on Feb. 20, judges will be allowed to score cowboys up to 100 points on a ride.

But knowing what happened to veteran judge Jeff Shearer shortly after a tour stop earlier this month in Sacramento, Calif., officials will think twice before they post the scores at the Arlington Built Ford Tough Series show.

The PBR’s Rules and Regulations Committee determined in an emergency meeting Jan. 18 there was a significant inconsistency in judges’ scores at the Sacramento Classic.

Shearer, who was one of four judges who evaluated the rides, will be suspended for five events.

In the second to last ride of the event Jan. 16, Shearer gave Elliott Jacoby an 18 (out of a possible 25) for his ride on a bull named Necessary Evil. The score was well below the other judges’ range of scores (21.5, 22 and 21), and resulted in Jacoby losing the event title narrowly to J.B. Mauney.

The PBR determined the inconsistency was unreasonable. Shearer will be suspended until Feb. 26, when the tour stops in St. Louis. (read more)

FORT WORTH – J.W. Harris whirled the steering dial of the radio-controlled bull with devilish glee. With every spin of his fingers, the Robo Bull churned.

“You ready?” Harris called out to L.D. Bell High School rodeo rider Hunter West as the 15-year-old bounded up onto the bull. Hunter got set, then nodded, his jaw clenched and his arm held aloft.

The bull jerked to life, red eyes glowing. The life-size replica of a real bucking bull is more precise than a traditional mechanical bull. Mounted on rubber wheels, it not only bucks but also moves in circles, mimicking the swirling and diving of the fearsome animals that Harris rides for a living.

Chest out!” Harris commanded as he ran the bull through a dizzying spin. “Your feet are gonna wanna come back, but don’t let ‘em. Good, good. Now, if you feel your feet come up, don’t look down.”

There’s nothing like getting your rodeo instruction from the reigning bull-riding world champion.

“Make sure there’s no daylight between your knees and the bull, keep your chest out,” Hunter repeated to himself as he jumped down from his lesson. “The first time I rode a real bull, my buddy said, ‘Just hold on!’ ” (read more)