CBR's Lufkin,TX Bull Bash

B J Schumacher Tops The Field In CBR 's  Lufkin,TX.Bull Bash.
The fans packed  the George Henderson Expo Center in Lufkin,TX  as Hillsboro,Wisc.'s  BJ Schumacher edged defending event champion J.B. Mauney(Hillsboro,NC) out by a mere half point to take the event title and a cool $10,000.Mauney,who rode despite suffering from a broken foot scored 85.5 aboard Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo's Surprise in the long go while BJ scored  84.5 aboard Guidry's Trage.In the short go Schumacher, who only recently returned to competition  from a shoulder injury which kept him out of the NFR rode Owen Washburn's  Rags  for 92.5 while Mauney rode  Vernon Guidry's Dippin XS Energy for 91.
It was a night full of excitement and energy as only eleven riders made qualified rides in the 1st Round.In section 1 Clayton Foltyn rode Robertson/Wilson's  Renegade for 83 points finishing 10th in the round and third in the average with 172 on two as he rode R/W's Trickle Charge for 89 in the short go.Cooper Kanngieeser rode R/W's Broken Arrow for 88 and was 5th in the round but bucked off another favorite R/W's Biloxi Blues in the short go.
In section 2 Ronnie Kitchens rode Scott Burrous' Cat Man for 88 but bucked off of Guidry's Western Hauler Dip.Ronnie was 4th in the long go and 8th  in the average.He was followed by  one of the top young guns ,Kolt Miller who made a perfect ride aboard SB's Poll Cat for 90.Kolt was second in the round and fifth in the event as he bucked off of R/W's Spider Man.
Lee Woolsey rode R/W's Del Rio,an exciting little bull for 87.5 but bucked off of R/W's  Vertical Limit  in the short go  while Travis Sellers tied with him aboard M/LL's BB Blue.Sellers had the misfortune of drawing one of my favorite bulls in the short go-Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo's Zorro.This bull is nearly straight up and down as he leaps with his head pointing down in the opposite direction as his hind legs are kicking up.Love this bull.
JB  was in the third section as was Justin Richards  who scored 88.5 on LRR's Sonic Kat. Richards, who was third in the 1st round bucked off  Kevin Loudamy's Uncle Charlie in the short go and finished 6th in the average.
Sam Smith had the round winner with a great 91 point ride aboard LRR's Bill's Thrill. In the short go I had to pick the bull over him as it was Guidry's Hot Damn.Love that bull! Smith finished 4th in the average.
Aside from BJ's ride in the 4th section only Bonner Bolton rode for 8 seconds.He scored 86.5 aboard VG's Cookie Monster but bucked off R/W's Georgia Sun in the short go.
Four riders who bucked off in the 1st round got the chance to get into the short go. Among  the five only two scored. Daniel McNeill rode R/W's  Lady Luck for 83 and Curtis Seamans rode R/W's Crimson Tide for 88.5.Then we had BJ's 92.5 and JB's 91 and Clayton Foltyn's 89.Only Schumacher,Mauney and Foltyn covered two head.
The CBR just had some incredible  bulls and the bulls were in charge at this event and as Tuff Hedeman was quoted as saying:"The caliber of bulls gave the guys a run for their money last night" There were three injuries.Travis Sellers suffered a muscle spasm with a bruised back while Daniel McNeill was hit in the face and suffered a slight concussion and a shaving scar.Palmer Merritt  was stepped on in the right upper quadrant of his abdomen and was transported to the hospital. for observation.He was released the following day with a bruised abdomen and possible bruised liver.
As for Matt Austin he leads the CBR standings,the PRCA's Winter Tour and their Xtreme Bulls Tour once again! He's incredible!
Don't forget .The Tuff Hedeman Championship Challenge begins Friday night  in Ft.Worth and runs through Sunday.Get your tickets now.
.