FORT WORTH, Tex. – The highly anticipated PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Challenger Series residency at Cowtown Coliseum launched Sunday afternoon, as some of the world’s best bull riders and bulls showed up and showed out for the first of 11 consecutive events inside the iconic Fort Worth, Texas venue. Compliments of his Round 1-winning score, Ednélio Almeida (Cacoal, Brazil) won his career-first PBR event, victorious at the PBR Sunday at Cowtown.
As the first rider to convert Sunday afternoon in front of a raucous crowd, Almeida delivered what would be the high-marked ride of the event to win Round 1. Reaching the requisite 8 atop Bobkat (Bob Whisnant/Shaw Cattle Co./Hilton Bull Co.), the Ariat Texas Rattlers rider was marked 88 points.
With the competing animal athletes posting buck offs in more than 92% of the trips, Almeida was unable to remain perfect in the championship round. He was bucked off by Ain’t Foolin (Barker Bulls/Hookin’ W Ranch) in a quick 3.13 seconds.
Despite his event ending in less-than-ideal fashion, Almeida’s opening score was enough to clinch him the victory
Almeida left the iconic Cowtown Coliseum having earned 37 Challenger Series points.
Second was Bass Pro Shops Missouri Thunder’s fifth round draft pick Jesse Petri (Dublin, Texas).
As one of six riders to advance to the final round on time, bucked off in Round 1 by Diablo (Cord McCoy/Grin/Jacobson), Petri made the most of his second chance.
Rising to the occasion, Petri covered White Face (Pedra Bucking Bulls/Hookin’ W Ranch) for a championship round-winning 87 points to clinch the runner-up finish.
Petri’s silver showing earned him 27 Challenger Series points.
As the final rider to record a score at the inaugural PBR Sunday at Cowtown, Missouri Thunder free agent Leandro Machado (Nova Esperanca, Brazil) was third.
Machado earned 14 Challenger Series points compliments of his 82-point ride atop Modified Ride (Flying W Bucking Bulls) in Round 1.
The bovine athletes were dominant Sunday afternoon, surrendering just three qualified rides in 41 attempts.
Leading the pen and crowned the Bull of the Event was Soul Train (5S Ranch). The powerful animal athlete posted the top score amongst all competing bulls in Round 1 when he was marked 44.5 points for his 3.96 seconds of work against Carlos Gomes Junior (Carmo de Minas, Brazil).
An ABBI (American Bucking Bull Inc.) Limited Classic was held in conjunction with the Challenger Series action inside Cowtown Coliseum. The Top 30 Classic bulls were ineligible to compete this weekend to give those who haven’t placed a chance a to do so.
2021 ABBI World Champion Futurity calf and current three-year-old Sucker Punch (Julian Cattle & Staci Addison/Buck Cattle/D&H Cattle) captured the win with a 90.08-point score to earn just under $6,000.
With 89.44 points, Soul Train (5S Ranch) landed a second-place finish for almost $4,000, while Martinez Bucking Bulls’ Favorite Child posted 89.2 points for third place and more than $2,700.
Fourth place went to El Guapo (X-Factor/Gentleman’s Club) for his 88.96-point performance to earn more than $2,300. Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was The Peoples Champ (Cord McCoy/James/Dittman). The up-and-coming animal athlete registered an 88.8-point score for roughly $1,800.
The PBR Challenger Series residency at Cowtown Coliseum continues Sunday, June 19. Action gets underway at 2:00 p.m. CT.
PBR RidePass on PlutoTV will offer re-airs and on-demand replays of PBR Challenger Series events. PBR RidePass is available on desktops, laptops and mobile devices via www.pluto.tv. Tune to channel 720 for the latest programming schedule, and click here for on-demand PBR programming.
PBR Challenger Series
PBR Sunday at Cowtown
Cowtown Coliseum – Fort Worth, Texas
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Ednélio Almeida, 88.5-0-88.50-37 Points.
2. Jesse Petri, 0-87-87.00-27 Points.
3. Leandro Machado, 82-0-82.00-14 Points.
Rafael Jose de Brito, 0-0-0.00
Leonardo Lima, 0-0-0.00
Trace Brown, 0-0-0.00
Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0.00
Alecio Ferreira da Costa, 0-0-0.00
Marcus Mast, 0-0-0.00
Ednei Caminhas, 0-0-0.00
Ricky Aguiar, 0-0-0.00
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0.00
Matt Birdwell, 0-0-0.00
Marco Ortiz, 0-0-0.00
Dayer Da Costa, 0-0-0.00
Lucas Fideles Souza, 0-0-0.00
Junio Quaresima, 0-0-0.00
Wyatt Rogers, 0-0-0.00
Boogie Marquez, 0-0-0.00
Bruno Jose Barros, 0-0-0.00
Paulo Rodriguez, 0-0-0.00
Carlos Gomes Junior, 0-0-0.00
Perry Schrock, 0-0-0.00
Anthony Hopen [1], 0-0-0.00
Anthony Hopen [2], 0-0-0.00
Sawyer Hill, 0-0-0.00
Angelo de Souza Neto, 0-0-0.00
Chason Brookshire, 0-0-0.00
Clancy Hart, 0-0-0.00
Thiago Salgado, 0-0-0.00
Diego Soares, 0-0-0.00
Tucker Graham, 0-0-0.00
Mauricio Pares Pinto, 0-0-0.00
PROVIDED COURTESY OF PBR TO TENN TEXAS MEDIA
