The Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division will visit Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and Texas this week.
Montana natives Beau Hill and Flint Rasmussen will headline the opening event for the Western Montana Fair & Rodeo on Aug. 9 with the Dickies® Northwest Touring Pro Division presented by Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply. Bull riding begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at the Western Montana Fair box office, at http://tinyurl.com/3aweqvy, and by telephone at (406) 721-3247.
Rasmussen, from Choteau, Mont., has entertained PBR fans for the last 12 years with quick wit, comical stunts, and dance moves. Hill, who is from West Glacier, Mont., returned to bull riding action for the first time after suffering a knee injury at a Built Ford Tough Series event in Anaheim, Calif., in January, and finished first in a TPD event at Big Sky, Mont.
Missoula is the 14th of 15 TPD events in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Bull Tour presented by Browning. The rider who accumulates the most winnings for the 15 events will be given an entry into the Built Ford Tough Series events at Milwaukee on Sept. 9-10, Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 16-18, and Wichita, Kan., on Sept. 23-24. The rider will also receive an RMEF-sponsored hunt, a limited-edition rifle from Browning, and a set of tires from Cooper Tires. The series is also sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers, Big Tex Trailers, Cooper Tires, Express Sports, Lincoln Welders, Montana Canvas, and Skyhawk Rugs.
Fan favorite Wiley Petersen hosts the TPD at the Fort Hall Fairgrounds in Fort Hall, Idaho, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The field will include 2004 World Champion Mike Lee, and Ryan Dirteater, who has finished in the Top 15 at the last two Built Ford Tough Series events. Tickets are available at www.wileypetersenpbr.com.
Cowboy Capital hosts the TPD at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds in Prescott, Ariz. The field will include 12 riders from Arizona, and the announcer will be famed retired bullfighter Rob Smets, who will be the first-ever recipient of the Jim Shoulders Award in October.
Hopkins Co. Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas will host the TPD on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The event will include fan favorite and two-time “Amazing Race” contestant Cord McCoy, and 2008 PBR Rookie of the Year Reese Cates. Tickets are available by telephone at (580) 678-8030.
The TPD provides an opportunity for riders to compete in PBR-sanctioned events while earning money to qualify for the nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series, which is comprised of the Top 40 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.
Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division Event Results:
Western Plains Chute-Out TPD
Aug. 3 at Sherman County Fairgrounds in Goodland, Kan.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Event Total Points)
Big Sky TPD
Aug. 3 at Big Sky Town Center in Big Sky, Mont.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Event Total Points)
Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo TPD
Aug. 4 at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Event Total Points)
Rifle TPD
Aug. 4 at Garfield Country Fairgrounds in Rifle, Colo.
Final Results (Round 1-Round 2-Event Total Points)
About the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR)
The PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 100 million viewers annually watch over 400 hours of primetime PBR programming on VERSUS, NBC, CBS and networks around the world. The PBR has awarded over $100 million in prize money, and 20 riders have earned over $1 million, including Justin McBride with $5.5 million – the most of any western-sports athlete in history. The PBR was nominated as 2010 Sports League of the Year at the Sports Business Journal Sports Business Awards, alongside the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. 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/TeamPBR and http://twitter.com/TEAMPBR.