Saturday, February 2, 2008

Bonner Bolton Is The CBR's 2007 World Champion And Finals Champion

Bonner Bolton Takes The CBR World Championship And Event Title
by Sheila Totten
When Gardendale, TX rider Bonner Bolton won both the CBR's World Championship and  the event title , CBR  President Tuff Hedeman was probably as proud of Bonner as if it had been one of his own two sons  who had won.I learned from the CBR's press release that Tuff  used to rodeo with Bonner's father Toya  and he watched Bonner grow up.Tuff has been high on Bonner's  riding all season long while his broadcast partner Andy Stewart has called Bonner " Mr. Consistency" on every broadcast and also while doing the  arena announcing . According to the CBR news Bonner  really does not feel that way about himself but then that's  so like Owen Washburn when he was referred to as "Captain Consistency".
Bonner like so many of the young riders today gave his thanks to the Lord for being able to make a good ride.Bonner ,like Adriano Moraes credits his reading of the Bible and prayer  for getting his life back on a good keel and allowing him to become focused on his game.
Bonner made a solid ride on Scott Burruss' Rafter Jack in round two for 88.5 giving him 172.5 on two head. In the short go he drew the bull Corey Davis had won round one on- Mike Johnson's The Air Up There .Bonner topped Corey's score with a great 94.5 ride  which thrilled the crowd.The bull is wild in his leaps and Bonner stayed in control which made for a very exciting ride.
Bonner  earned $54,100 which sent him to the top of the standings for the World Title.
Travis Sellers won round two with his 93 point ride aboard Bobby Harrison's Sam T Straight.Jake Littlefield was second in the round with 91 points aboard Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo's Maverick.If the judges sheets were correct then Jesse Bail tied with Jake with his 91 points aboard Jesse Hill's Mucked Out.There were 19 qualified rides including Navajo Nation Champion Spud Jones aboard Jason Diedrich's JR's Jacket for 85.5.When I interviewed Spud at Longview ,TX he was thrilled to be heading to Vegas for the World Finals.Spud is truly living his dream.
Kenny Westrope scored 87 aboard Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo's Derringer for 87 in the first section while Danell Tipton rode the Bruce/Martinez bull Apache Warrior for 89.
Cody Sundby rode Alan Murphy's Peep Show for 88 and that was the only ride in thesecond section. In the third section Bryan Richardson rode  Flenniken Cattle Co's High Dollar Habit for 86 points while Cody Whitney tied that score aboard Brice Cooper's Chipaway.
Pistol Robinson had led in the standings until the Finals and unfortunately he just didn't have the weekend  he would have liked to have  but he did make a good ride aboard Alan Murphy's Deuce Bigalo for 88.5 while round one leader Corey Davis  bucked off of  Martin Baca's Swamp Dog.
Wesley Silcox rode Talbert Land & Cattle Co.'s Bobby Knight to tie with Pistol  and Jody Newberry rode Martin Baca's Speedy Gonzales for 85. If a bull comes from Martin or Caspar you know he has to be good. Cooper Kanngiesser Jesse Hill's Hou's for 81. Cole Echols rode Mike Johnson's Captain Jack  for 88 while Willis Trosclair  rode Johnson's  Ridin Dirty for 87 points and I wonder  if Mike is trying to tell us this bull is full of dirty tricks or he sure is going to get you down in the dirt.Danny McDowell rode Owen Washburn's  Whiskey Bent for 88.5. to join a five way tie while Cody White scored 88 aboard Owen Washburn's  Wolf brand.He was "Captain Consistency" as a rider and he has kept that name as a stock contractor. Bronson Butcher rode Scott Burruss' Navajo for 87 and John Jacobs rode Tut Henry's Kamikaze for 87.5.
Only four riders  made  qualified rides in the short go and of course one was Bonner Bolton aboard The Air Up There. Bronson Butcher rode  Alan Murphy's Border Patrol for 87, Josh Jacobs rode Scott Burruss' Georgia Sun for 89.5 while Jarrod Craig rode Burruss' White Chocolate for 90.5.
The top five in the final standings for the 2007 season are:
Bonner Bolton         7097.4
Pistol Robinson      4667.1
Jarrod Craig            3731.1
Bronson Butcher     3514.6
Corey Davis            2632.2 

No comments: