Local riders miss money at PBR in Red Bluff

keeping it cool: DJ Cooper of Cottonwood controls his bull at the PBR Bull Bash in Red Bluff on Aug. 27 as the bull tried to go into a flat spin. Cooper stayed on his bull for appoximately seven seconds before getting bucked off.

kickin' and spurin' — Colby Demo of Red Bluff rides his junior bull along the fence as it is kicking up its heels trying to buck Demo off. While preparing for his rides, Cord McCoy pulled his bull rope for him. Demo is a member of the PAC West Xtreme Bull Riders team out of Marysville.

Ten local riders competed in the 6th annual Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Bull Bash in Red Bluff on Aug. 27, but none of them brought home any prize money. Mesa Productions of Cottonwood and Rolling Hills Casino presented the event.

Of the ten local riders, Keith Roquemore of Cottonwood made it back to the short go, taking a ride on a bull owned by Chad Berger, named Big Tex. Unfortunately Roquemore didn't stay on for the coveted eight seconds.

In the long go round, a total of four out of ten bull riders rode for eight seconds. Those riders were Derek McCormack of Covolo with 85.5 points; Sean Wellingham of Summerville, Ga. riding for the event high of 90 points; Chris Shivers of Jonesville, La. with 85.5 points; and Cord McCoy of Tupelo, Okla. with 84 points.

John Jacobs of Timber Lake, S.D. and McCoy had successful rides in the short go, making rides on Cheerio for 88 points and Lightning Strike for 86 points respectively. McCoy was awarded the 2010 PBR Bull Bash Championship, with a total of 170 points on two head, riding a Don Kish bull named Zen Master in the long go. In second place was Willingham, third place Jacobs riding Cheerio and in fourth was McCormack with 85 points on Yellow Jacket Junior.

Some of the local riders who normally ride on the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Circuit and in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association expressed their excitement at being able to get on PBR stock.

The winner of the Red Bluff Bull Bash, was McCoy, who began riding bulls at the young age of 8. Now 31, riding against Shivers, McCormack and Wellingham is a big step for him towards the PBR World Finals. McCoy and his brother Jet McCoy finished second in the reality television show The Amazing Race on CBS.

"Riding against these guys helps me to step up my game a bit," said McCoy to announcer Clint Adkins at the end of the event.

The bull riders from the PAC West Xtreme Bull Riding team were also on hand to share their talent with riders from seven to 17. The PAC West Riders practice, hold Jr. Bull Riding events and Cowboy Church in Marysville.

Seventeen-year-old PAC West rider Tyler Stueve won the California High School Rodeo Association Bull Riding State Championship this year and also took home the title from the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association State Finals Rodeo.

Pee Wee bull rider Colby Demo, 14, of Red Bluff, had McCoy pull his rope for him as he was getting ready to ride at the PBR Bull Bash.

"Cord told Colby to go out and be a cowboy," said his father, Chris Demo. "Colby took out his mouth piece and told McCoy, that he was going to spur'em down."

There was a total of 40 riders at the event and Patrick John of Q97 FM was also on hand to talk with PBR fans and do a live broad cast before the event. Shivers, McCoy, Willingham and Kody Lostroh signed autographs before the event.

There were approximately 2,000 people in attendance. The stock contractors were Don and Janelle Kish of Kish's Buckin' Best, Jeff and Terrie Davis of Four Star Rodeo Company, Chad Berger and Cameron Holeman.

Local riders consisted of Travis Gonzales, DJ Cooper, Keith Roquemore, Justin Myers, Billy Soksoda, Jay Foscalina, J.T. Davis, Brady Williams, A.J. Hamre and Dominic Benedict.

Those making it back to the short go where: Mark Lopes of Oakdale, John Jacobs of Timber Lake, South Dakota, Keith Roquemore of Cottonwood, A.J. Hamre of Chico, Kris Matthews of Redwood Valley, McCoy, Willingham and McCormack, who was up to ride two bulls, but took a medical out on his second short go bull, after being stepped on by Yellow Jacket Junior,

Bull Fighters were Eric Layton and Joe Baumgartner of Red Bluff and Barrelman Flint Rasmussen.

Rabobank sponsored the PAC West Xtreme Bull Riding Team and Dan Ward Construction sponsored the mutton busting.