For the week of  September 12 - 18, 2001

Okay….Let’s ride bulls!

PBI brings 29 bullriders to Hailey

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Hey, it’s only money.

That’s what the Professional Bull Riding Invitationals (PBI) announcer said to a Hailey Rodeo Arena crowd of over 1,000 rodeo fans Saturday.

PBI tour leader Jason Landon of Boise sets off on one of his Hailey rides Saturday. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Hey, it’s only money—and there was a gate of almost $7,000 for the PBI Bulls Only Tour event in Hailey.

The announcer was trying to scrape up a little more money, for the cowboys and fans alike, during an impromptu auction of the top eight riders in the Bulls Only final round.

Pocatello bullrider Tennessee Nix, for example, went for $275 in the auction while Doug James weighed in at $300. But the big money went to the top bullriders themselves.

You had to make the final eight. "This is where we put the icing on the cake," the announcer said before the final go-round.

Saturday’s winning bullrider among the 29 who started the contest was 20-year-old Tennessee Nix, who piled up 91 points on Wildfire. Nix pocketed $912 for placing first in the "long go" average and $1,824 for winning the "short go" finals.

John Wright was the runner-up with 86 points on Razor Sharp. He won $577.60 for the "long go" and another $1,368 for the "short go."

Doug James ($425.60 long, $912 short) finished third overall with 83 points on White Smoke. Although he had a no-score for his final ride on Milk Dud, fourth-place Jesse Aldous won $729 for the long, $456 short.

Others making the final eight at Hailey were Brazilian bullrider Marcello Arantes, Joshua Smith, Josh Manning and Jason Landon.

The PBI Bulls Only Tour, which started May 25 in Rexburg, winds up its second season with another show Saturday, Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. at Mackay. The Year-End Circuit Finals are planned for New Year’s Eve indoors at Winnemuca, Nev.

Going into the Mackay finale, the tour leader is Jason Landon of Boise with 749 points, ahead of Brady Henderson of Downey, 709.5 points.

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