World Champion Bull Contenders Announced

MEDIA CONTACT: 719.242.2800, ext. office

PUEBLO, Colo. (October 16, 2008) - The votes are in and the Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR) is proud to announce the five bulls contending for the title of 2008 PBR World Champion Bull during the World Finals in Las Vegas! The World Champion bull is entitled to a Big Tex stock trailer, a $20,000 bonus, and bragging right for the 2009 Built Ford Tough Series season. Second place bull will receive $12,000; third, $9,000; fourth, $6,000; and fifth will receive $3,000 bonus.

In no particular order, these are the bulls that have been recognized:

Troubadour; from Flying U/Rosser Rodeo/Moreno Livestock, has an average bucking score of 45.5 and buck off percentage of 93.5. One of his high marked rides for the 2008 BFTS season was in Tulsa, Okla as Mike White (DeKalb, Texas) took on the animal for 95.75 points.

Spitfire; from C-G Rodeo Livestock, had an average bucking score of 44.6 and a buck off percentage of 86.5. Spitfire was conquered in Billings, Mont. by Helton Barbosa (Douradina, PR, BZ) for 91.5 points.

Bones; belonging to Teague Bucking Bulls, average bucking score was 42.9, and the only bull with a 100% buck off rate.  Recently, reigning World Champion Justin McBride (Elk City, Okla.) attempted to ride Bones in the Built Ford Tough Championship Round in Columbus, Ohio.

Copperhead Slinger; owned by Chad Berger Bucking Bulls/Struve, with an average bucking score of 44.7 and a buck off rate of 70%. One of his high marked rides of 2008 was with Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.) in Worcester, Mass. for 95 points.

All In; from Naccarato Bucking Bulls, had an average bucking score of 45.2, with an average buck off rate of 83.3%. 90.5 seems to be the magic number for All In in 2008 with only three rides to his credit being this unanimous score.

Who better to single out these exceptional bovine athletes than the men who witness their brute strength on a first-hand basis – the Built Ford Tough Series top 45. Each rider has submitted their top five picks to determine the contenders but the bulls take matters into their own hands from here. The highest aggregate score on total outs will ultimately determine which of these bucking athletes will take top honors.

As the Triple Crown of the bucking bull industry, this prestigious title will be handed down from bucking phenomenon – Robinson, Tedesco and Larry the Cable Guy’s Chicken On A Chain. Don’t miss the 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals as the finest in bucking bull genetics go head to head in an all-out battle of bovine brutality.

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About the PBR:
More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, ESPN, VERSUS, and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With approximately 400 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with it multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., with additional offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. The PBR prides itself in its 1,000 plus stock contractor relationships and over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in five countries.