Wiley Petersen Wins PBR's First Chihuahua Mexico Event

PBR-Chihuahua,Mexico

by Sheila Totten

There were many who feared this event  because of the strained relations between our country and Mexico; because Chihuahua is notorious as the most troubled  and crime ridden state in Mexico and because of the warnings from PBR stock contractor Jerry Nelson who lost land and livestock to Mexican Authorities.We all held our breath until all the bulls and all the riders  and personal returned home. The PBR spared no expense and had hired over 400 security guards for the event.No one went anywhere without them.

There was a better crowd than expected because of the large  group of fans and family from Mexico who came to watch Gerardo Venegas and also Rocky McDonald. All in all it turned out to be a very good event and the PBR was honored with a parade and a visit to the Governor's Palace where his office , not his residence is situated.

 I am very glad Craig Hummer seems to be a permanent part of the broadcast crew.Craig is a good announcer and works well with Justin and Michael or Justin and Ty.He is the best non-rodeo announcer  OLN has ever put on one of these broadcasts and he has timing,personality and is just an all around refreshing guy on the show.Welcome Craig!

One of my favorite people,Wiley Petersen of the Shoshone -Blackfoot Tribe  won the event and is the only rider this season to win four events as of the present.In round one Wiley tied for 13/15 as he rode  Herrington's Snowflake for 82.25 while the bull who could have had more action scored 40.25. Don't forget that all the bulls had a long trip to Chihuahua and went through a lot on the way. Good bulls like Snowflake were not at the top of their game  because  of the hours spent  in transit and the extra heat they had to put up with. In round two Wiley rode Bad Company's Born To Buck for 85 points as the bull spun to the right away from Wiley's hand then reversed to the left into it with a bull score of 42. Wiley remained centered and up front and probably should gave scored higher.He had 167.25 going into the short go.

Tater Porter led going into the short go but  Diamond S' Crude Dude ended Tater's dream of an event win as he shot him right out the back door. Wiley,who had been the eight rider up made a strong ride aboard  Guidry's Dippin' XS Energy for 85.50 as the bull took two leaps straight out then spun to the right away from Wiley's hand and got a little ahead of Wiley.It was catch up time which Wiley did well and matched the bull leap for leap. Dippin' XS Energy scored 42.75 while Wiley had 252.75 on three head and the win.He and Mike Lee were the only ones to ride three bulls. Congratulations to Wiley  not only on his fourth event title of the season and for being the very first PBR rider to win the first BFTS event in Mexico but also on the birth of his second son who was born just a month ago. As for the ride Wiley told the lovely and vivacious Leah Garcia :"I thank God  for keeping me on because I wasn't on my rope."That's our Wiley! And he won the event without winning any of the rounds.He was  13/15 in the first round,12th in the second and second in the short go.

Chris Shivers won  round one aboard Mike Solomon's Ditto. I just think that bull is so precious. Chris made a great ride on the little bull who went into a fast spin to the left into Chris' hand with good action. Chris was picture perfect and grinning from ear to ear after the dismount. He scored 89.5 and Ditto had a good bull score of 43.50. Chris  faced Bad Company's Walk This Way in the Mossy Oak Shoot Out and I didn't like the result as Chris landed hard on what looked to be his collarbone but complained of neck pain.The bull took a  huge leap to the left then jerked hard right to send the two time World Champion to the dust.

Close on Chris' heels was Wiley Ropp aboard Davis/White/DX3's Chief with 89. Chief  took two leaps out then spun to the right away from Willy's hand then reversed left at the end of the ride and had a bull score of 43.75.The top five riders of the round  were so close in points. Robey Condra whom I used to watch ride on the Mesquite Rodeo broadcasts was third in the round with 88.75 points aboard Smiley who made a big fake to the left then made a quick turn to the right into Robey's hand with lots of kick and action. Robey made a very aggressive ride  while the bull scored big with 44.25.

Paolo Crimber and Allan Moraes tied at 87.25 for 4/5. Paolo rode Guidry's Bobby Knight who spun to the left away from Paolo's hand with lots of action. The bull scored43.75. Allan Moraes rode the Martin Baca  bull Speedy Gonzales who spun to the left in a nice, even spin with lots of speed and kick and the ride earned Allan a standing ovation. The bull scored 42.75. The crowd loved our Brazilian  riders almost as much as their own fan favorite Gerardo Venegas and also Rocky McDonald.

Although he didn't make the top of the leader board I cannot  leave out my favorite home town rider Cory Rasch.Cory rode  Here We Go for 81.25 and was 17th in the round. The bull spun to the left away from Cory's hand then jumped out of the spin and bucked forward before reversing right into Cory's hand. Cory needed much more bull under him as Here We Go only scored 40.

Tater Porter won round two with his 88.25 ride aboard the Davis/Wilson bull Wildcat Blaine  who faked right then spun left  into Tater's hand then reversed back to the right. Tater stayed in control and looked great. The bull scored 44.

Jesse Torkelson tied for second/third  in the round  but his ride was one not shown and that is too bad.Its the same old story with too many profiles and not enough rides as fans keep complaining  about this on so many message boards. Jesse scored 87.25 aboard  Boyd/Floyd/Paradise Farms Hornet who scored 43. Also at 87.25 was Shane Proctor who rode Diamond S' Hot Diggity who spun to the right into Shane's hand while Shane spurred aggressively with his left foot. The bull score was 43.

Fourth place went to Brian Canter aboard Vernon Guidry's Bobby Knight who faked right then faked left then spun right with lots of drop,kick and elevation. Brian scored 87 while the bull scored 43.

It was good to see Corey Navarre finish in the top five. He scored 86.75 aboard Boyd/Floyd/Paradise Farms' Rollover Risk who scored 42.75.

Again this is a ride we all missed.

My hometown rider Cory Rasch  was the rider profile with Tandy Freeman showing  Cory's x-rays. Cory rehabbed at the same Health South  facility my husband  used; and the crew there in Clarksville,TN is great.They help many people avoid surgeries. My hat's off to them. Cory had only been to 7 events at this point in time due to his injuries and  he had even been having second thoughts about his career. He told the fans  during this segment" This year  for me has been pretty much a killer  for me." well Cory is back and in good health and good form so watch it guys.The Clarksville ,TN. rider is on a roll. Cory Tied for 7/8 in this round with his score of 86.25 on Boyd/Floyd's/Paradise Farms' Minimus with Tyler Thomas on Martin Baca's Speedy Gonzales. Tyler's bull was a small,fast spinner who spun left then reversed right and went right after Tyler on the get off. The bull scored 43. Cory rode another small bull in Minimus who spun to the left away from Cory's hand in a good,fast and even drifting spin. Minimus scored 42.75

There were only two qualified rides in the short go. World Champion Mike Lee won the round with his 87 point ride aboard Stookesbury/Thorsell/Owen's great bull Freightliner who took one leap out then spun to the left into Mike's hand in a drifting spin.This gave Mike 252.50 on three head and he was second in the average.The bull scored 43.

Wiley's event winning ride aboard Guidry's Dippin XS Energy was the only other qualified ride. It seems as if this event went well but the echoes of Jerry Nelson's warnings about Mexico still ring in my ears.

The average is as follows:

1 Wiley Petersen 252.75 642.75 $29,010.00
2 Mike Lee 252.50 622.50 $17,290.00
3 Tater Porter 173.50 548.50 $13,925.00
4 Paulo Crimber 171.50 441.50 $5,868.00
5 Kody Lostroh 171.00 421.00 $4,662.00
6 Brian Canter 170.75 395.75 $3,580.00
7 Justin McBride 167.75 292.75 $2,250.00
8 Cory Rasch 167.50 292.50 $2,095.00
9 Beau Hill 162.25 222.25 $1,600.00
10 Matt Bohon 161.25 191.25 $1,430.00
11 Allan Moraes 156.75 226.75 $1,780.00
12 Chris Shivers 89.50 189.50 $4,230.00
13 Willy Ropp 89.00 179.00 $2,950.00
14 Robey Condra 88.75 168.75 $2,170.00
15/16 Jesse Torkelson 87.25 172.25 $2,560.00
15/16 Shane Proctor 87.25 172.25 $1,560.00
17 Corey Navarre 86.75 146.75 $468.00
18 Tyler Thomson 86.25 121.25 $195.00
19 Dustin Hall 86.00 106.00 $0.00
20 Gerardo Venegas 85.75 135.75 $312.00
21/23 Guilherme Marchi 85.25 120.25 $195.00
21/23 Brendon Clark 85.25 90.25 $0.00
21/23 Sean Willingham 85.25 90.25 $0.00
24/25 Travis Briscoe 84.75 84.75 $0.00
24/25 Cody Whitney 84.75 84.75 $0.00
26 Bowdy Peach 83.50 83.50 $0.00
27 Rogerio Ferreira 82.25 82.25 $0.00
28 J.B. Mauney 81.75 81.75 $0.00
29 Ross Coleman 80.50 80.50 $0.00
30 J. W. Hart 78.75 78.75 $0.00
31 Colby Yates 78.50 78.50 $0.00
32 Austin Meier 77.00 77.00 $0.00