TPD visits California, Kansas, Montana, Oregon

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division will visit California, Kansas, Montana and Oregon this week.

The annual Big Sky PBR will take place Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Big Sky Town Center at the Big Sky in Big Sky, Mont. In its first year in 2011, the event was won by Montana native Beau Hill, and selected as "Event of the Year" by the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. PBR entertainer extraordinaire Flint Rasmussen will provide his combination of athletic talent, quick wit, comical stunts and dance moves. Tickets are available by telephone at (406) 995-2055 and online at www.explorebigsky.com.

The Western Plains Chute-Out makes its annual visit to the Sherman County Fairgrounds in Goodland, Kan., on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Homestead Realty and Auction in Goodland, Kan., Vanderbilts in Colby, Kan., and www.goodlandcal.net/pbr.

The TPD makes its annual stop at the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Earl Warren Showgrounds Arena. Past winners of the only professional bull riding event in Santa Barbara County include 2008 PBR World Champion Guilherme Marchi and 2009 PBR Rookie of the Year Cody Nance. Built Ford Tough Series regulars scheduled to compete in Santa Barbara include Ryan Dirteater, Cord McCoy and Robson Palermo. Tickets can be purchased at the Earl Warren box office, by telephone at (805) 682-5848 and online at www.sbfiestarodeo.com.

The TPD returns to Molalla, Ore., on Friday and Saturday, for the Eighth Annual Ross Coleman Invitational. The event is hosted by Molalla, Ore., native Ross Coleman, who will become the newest member of the PBR Ring of Honor during the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration on Oct. 23 at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas.

Selected four times by PBR riders as the best TPD event, the RCI has also been honored as the Oregon Festival and Events Association Sporting Event of the Year. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Tickets are available at www.TicketsWest.com.

Coleman began the event as a fundraiser, supporting his best friend who had cancer. It has raised more than $200,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon, which presented Coleman with its Katie's Star Award in 2008. This year, the event will benefit Western Wishes, a non-profit organization that grants wishes for kids and young adults facing adversity and living a Western lifestyle.

The TPD gives riders the opportunity to compete in PBR-sanctioned events while earning money to qualify for the nationally-televised BFTS, which is comprised of the Top 35 bull riders in the world. Every five events on the BFTS, the Top 5 riders (based on money earned) from the TPD are allowed to move into the BFTS.

The BFTS features the world's best and highest-paid bull riders competing against the fiercest bucking bulls on the planet. The TPD allows established veterans and newcomers alike the opportunity to compete against some of the world's best bucking bulls.

The BFTS will return to action on Aug. 10-11 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., with the Express Classic Presented By WinStar World Casino. Tickets begin at $12 and are on sale at the Arby's Box Office at the BOK Center, www.BOKCenter.com, Tickets.com outlets and by telephone at (866) 7-BOKCTR. Ticket price will increase $2 on day of show.

The BFTS is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, NBC Sports Network and YouTube. BFTS telecasts are produced for the PBR under a multi-year agreement with David Neal Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company led by 34-time Emmy® Award winner and Peabody Award winner David Neal, who serves as executive producer. 

Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division Event Results:

Eighth Annual Mesa Productions and Rolling Hills Casino TPD
July 28 at Redding, Calif.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Points)
1. Chris Lowe, 85.5-90-175.5 points.
2. Brendon Clark, 61-87-148 points.
3. Sean Willingham, 85.5-0-85.5 points.

Livingston Classic PBR
July 28 at Redding, Calif.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Total Points)
1. Cody Johnson, 86.5-0-86.5 points.
2. Chase Outlaw, 86-0-86 points; and Billy Robinson, 86-0-86 points.

About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world's premier bull riding organization. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the PBR. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has become a global sports phenomenon that is televised worldwide. More than 100 million viewers annually watch primetime PBR programming on networks around the world including CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, and NBC Sports Network. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money and 25 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million - the most of any Western-sports athlete in history. Nearly 2 million fans attend Built Ford Tough Series and Touring Pro Division events each year. For more information on the PBR, go to www.pbr.com, or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at http://twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/PBR.

Follow Jack Carnefix on Twitter @JackCarnefix.