2009 NBR Finals

Raleigh, NC February 12-13, 2010

By Kaitlyn Driscoll

It pretty much goes without saying that the finals of any bull riding association is the most highly anticipated event of the season. The National Bull Riding Association (NBR) Championship Bull Riding and Barrel Racing was held February 12^th and 13^th in Raleigh, NC, and was no exception. All year long, the cowboys and cowgirls competed for their spot at the finals. This Carousel Farms production, held at the JB Hunt Arena at the NC State fairgrounds, proved to be an electric two-night performance, despite the snow and wintry weather.

The top 30 bull riders in the NBR were paired up against the paramount bucking bulls in the Professional Bucking Bull Association (PBBA). It turned out to be quite a showdown, a showdown of the best battling the best for the top prizes of cash and buckles. The top 15 cowgirl barrel racers also attended the event, racing against the clock, and each other, for prestigious awards. This 2009 season finale proved rewarding for many of the cowboys and cowgirls, and more than $15,000 in cash and prizes was awarded to the winning contestants. 

Friday night, Cody Martin of Georgia sat atop the leader board with a score of 86.75 on Rafter C Bucking Bull’s Texas and won himself $930 in prize money. Kevin McKeeman placed second with an 85.5 aboard Black Belt from Diamond C and earned $697.50. Blaine Whipp placed third with 82.5 on another Diamond C bull Bomb.com and earned a $464 paycheck. Jay Miller rounded out fourth place with a 78 point ride on Wolverine from Walton & Wagoner, and he received a $232.50 paycheck for his efforts. .

In the cowgirl barrel racing, Terra Garrison led the pack with a 16.1 second run Friday night and earned herself a $509.50 paycheck. Lari Lee Isley was close behind with a 16.157 second time and took home $305.70. Brynn Blackwell set the third place pace at 16.24 seconds and received $203.80 for her effort.

Saturday night, Josh Faircloth won the round with an electric 89.5 point ride ($930) on a bull named Rubber Bucky from Charlie Oldham and Caleb & Tonya White. Blaine Whipp made his second qualified ride aboard Texas from Rafter C Bucking Bulls to the tune of 86.25 points ($697.50). Jay Miller also put together his second qualified ride with 85.75 points ($465) aboard Callaway Baxter’s bull Animal House.  Cody Martin, the third man to put together two qualified rides, rounded out fourth place with an 84.50 point ($232.50) ride on Shot Gun Ready from SR Rodeo.

The second night of barrel racing showed some familiar names from Friday night’s performance. Brynn Blackwell finished first with a 15.79 second run ($509.50). Lari Lee Isley trailed right behind with a 15.86 second run ($305.70). Jill Riebe rounded out third place with a time of 16.133 seconds ($203.80).

Only two bull riders had qualified rides in the short go round. Josh Faircloth was 89.75 points aboard Johnny Ringo from Rafter C Bucking Bulls, and Jay Miller, the only man to ride three bulls all weekend, was 83 points on Clay Ellison’s Black Magic.

Jay Miller of Liberty, SC won the average for the finals, with a combined score of 242.75 points, received $2475 in prize money, a Bob Berg Buckle, and a total of $3172.50 won for the weekend. North Carolina native Josh Faircloth finished second overall in the average with a total score of 176.75 points, received $1375 for the average, and a total of $2305 in prize money. Cody Martin polished the weekend off in third place with a combined score of 171.25 points. He earned himself $825 in the average and $1987 for the weekend. Blaine Whipp finished close behind with 168.75 points, $550 in average prize money and $1712.50 total. Rounding out fifth place was Kevin McKeeman with 158.75 points total, $275 in the average, and $972.50 for the weekend.

The PBBA Tier I first place bull was Short Notice owned by Jason Roberts, and the second place bull was Homer, owned by Mike Porter. The PBBA Tier II winning bull was High Dollar owned by Craig Wagoner. Tied for second, third, and fourth were Black Belt from Diamond C, Shot Gun Ready owned by SR Rodeo, and Rubber Bucky owned by Charlie Oldham and Caleb and Tonya White. The “money bull” of the weekend was Texas of Rafter C Bucking Bulls; Texas not only took a few guys to the pay window throughout the weekend, but he showed his potential as a great animal athlete.

The finals also awarded many of the people who help to make events possible throughout the year, each of whom received a custom Bob Berg buckle for their hard work and dedication. Announcer of the Year was Jeff Wolfe, Secretary of the Year was Jean Radford, Scotty Williams and Kelsey Salisbury were both awarded buckles for their judging, Barrel man of the Year was Jake Wilcox, Bullfighter of the Year was Chad Ellison, Event of the Year was Camden, SC a Rafter C and Tom Smith production, and finally, Producer of the Year was Jason Roberts.

2010 shows promise to be even more successful than 2009 for the NBR. Our next event will be held March 19^th and 20^th in Pelzer, SC. It will be an NBR/CBR/PBBA co-sanctioned event with $5,000 added in prize money. Friday night’s performance will be a CBR event, and Saturday will be an NBR. Both nights will be PBBA performances, and there will be a short round each night! To find the full schedule of events for the 2010 season, to see results, or to find out more information on how to participate in an NBR or PBBA event, visit www.nbrbull.com or www.pbbanow.com.