Former world champion Mike Lee, famed bullfighter Shorty Gorham
and former world champ turned Nashville recording artist Justin
McBride
— not to mention the bucking bulls that make it all possible —
will all be in action when the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro
Division invades Bolado Park on Saturday, Sept. 4.
HOLLISTER
Former world champion Mike Lee, famed bullfighter Shorty Gorham and former world champ turned Nashville recording artist Justin McBride — not to mention the bucking bulls that make it all possible — will all be in action when the Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division invades Bolado Park on Saturday, Sept. 4.
The culmination of three day’s worth of events in the area, the fourth annual bull-riding event, presented by Table Mountain Casino & Resort, will kick off at 6 p.m., at Bolado Park.
Featuring an array of up-and-coming talent mixed alongside some more established riders, all of whom are trying to earn enough money to qualify toward the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), the Touring Pro Division is said to be a minor league tour of the PBR, replacing the Challenger, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Discovery tours.
But don’t let the title fool you. Some of the top names on the tour will be in Hollister on Sept. 4, including Mike Lee, a PBR World Champion in 2004. The Decatur, Texas, native has raked in more than $2.7 million in his career — he’s sixth on the all-time money list — and is currently ranked ninth in the BFTS.
Moreover, the 22nd-ranked rider on the BFTS, Ned Cross of Midland, Ore., is also expected to compete at Bolado Park. Cross finished second in Salinas when he compiled a two-ride score of 177 points in July, and took second in Billings, Mont., at the Nile Invitational in April — a BFTS event — where he rode to a four-head score of 346.25.
Cody Campbell, who is 26th in the standings, will look to stay hot at Bolado Park next weekend as well after finishing third at the Memphis Invitational last weekend, while Missouri native Luke Snyder will be in attendance after finishing in the money at the Adams County Fair Fest last month in Nebraska and at the Cowboy Capital in Arizona earlier this month.
Hollister resident Brendon Clark, who goes by the “Australian Sensation” — he was born in Morpeth, New South Wales, after all — will look to carry over a strong August showing into the month of September at Bolado Park. The 29-year-old Aussie finished seventh at the U.S. Air Force Invitational in San Antonio, Texas, at the beginning of the month, took 16th at the Jack Daniels Invitational in Nashville on Aug. 15, and took 16th at the Memphis Invitational last weekend.
Each rider will be vying for as much of the $20,000 total purse as they can get, with the top 15 riders advancing to the short go-round.
The real winners last year may have been the bulls themselves, though. Of the 15 riders who advanced to the short go-round, only one of them managed to last the required eight seconds.
“All of the bulls here are the best bulls in the business right now,” Luke Snyder said last year after he was bucked off by “All In,” owned by Naccarato Bucking Bulls. “The bull power was just outstanding.”
“All In” is expected to be back in the mix this year as well, as is “Bring It,” “Rippin’ Wrangler” and “Big Tex,” which has bucked off nearly 90 percent of its riders this year. The bulls are provided by Chad Berger, Hollister Bucking Bulls and Sis and Stan Bucking Bulls, among others.
Bullriding won’t be the only event to take place next weekend at the San Benito County Fairgrounds, though.
Event promoters have been gearing up for the PBR’s return this year and added a Poker Run to the mix of events, which kick off on Thursday, Sept. 2.
“Each year, we’re trying to add something to the event,” promoter Dana Aviles said.
The Poker Run will start at 5 p.m. and go from Cheap Seats Pub & Grub, to Grillin & Chillin, to Dona Maria’s, to the 19th Hole and finally end at the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, where a kick-off party will be held with live music by the Country Outlaws. The grand prize for the poker run will be a guided hunt for two (turkey, pig or fishing), a value of $1,000.
All proceeds will benefit the Baler Backers Athletic Organization.
Also new this year is a junior bull riding competition, which will be held during the PBR event. Local competitors scheduled to compete include Brody Sans, Dustin Borba, Cash Robinson, Cash Kuhn, Clayton Bigelow and Clayton Bruhm.
“As we grow, we’re trying to benefit the community more and more,” said Aviles, adding that the PBR event in Hollister helps support the FFA, 4-H, the Gavilan College Education Foundation and Tres Pinos School, as well as the Baler Backers and the Exchange Club, both of which were added this year.
Tickets range from $10 to $50, and can be purchased at Boot Barn in San Martin and Salinas, Pinnacle Floor Coverings, McAbee Feed and Rancher’s Feed in Hollister, or by calling Laura Naccarato at (831) 245-9042, or Dana Aviles at (831) 297-0251. For more information about the event, or to purchase tickets, go online to: www.hollisterpbr.com
PBR Event Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 2
Poker Run — Check-in at Cheap Seats at 5 p.m.
Kick-off Party — At Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, with live music by the Country Outlaws at 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 3
Golf — The second annual Hollister PBR Shootout Golf Tournament will take place at Ridgemark. Check-in time will be at 8:30 a.m., with a shotgun start scheduled for 10 a.m.
Concert — Justin McBride, a two-time PBR World Champion in 2005 and 2007 and now a country music singer, will perform at the Guerra Peppertree Ranch Amphitheater at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4
Mutton Busting — For children 7 and under. The event begins at 12 p.m., with the top 10 riders coming back to compete during the PBR event that night. Entries for the mutton busting are still open.
Concert — The Second Wind Band, with special guest Justin McBride, will perform at the San Benito County Fairgrounds at 1 p.m.
Barbecue — A barbecue will begin at 2 p.m., as will a wine and microbrew tasting.
Bullriding — The PBR event will begin at 6 p.m.
