ARLINGTON — Though Bushwacker, the 2011 PBR World Champion Bull, threw off Austin Meier in less than three seconds at the Dickies Iron Cowboy IV at Cowboys Stadium, the Oklahoman stayed on long enough to win the coveted $50,000 winner’s prize.
Meier and former Professional Bull Riders World Finals average winner L.J. Jenkins faced each other in the final round of the tournament competition. Meier was the first to ride and was thrown in 2.67 seconds. But Jenkins only stayed on Asteroid, the defending World Champion Bull, for 2.17 seconds.So, after staying on a half-second longer than Jenkins, Meier, a former World Finals qualifier from Kinta, Okla., claimed the title and received a $50,000 check before about 30,000 fans Saturday night.After all that, Meier had a chance to pocket another $50K if he could have conquered the show’s bonus bull, Monster Energy Money Bull Shepherd Hills Tested of Luthy/Duckwall/D&H Cattle/Shepherd Hills Cutlery. But Shepherd Hills Tested bucked him off in 1.91 seconds.Unlike the majority of PBR shows that determine the champion by an aggregate score from three or four rides throughout a two- or three-day show on a weekend, the Arlington tour stop was a bracket-style, tournament competition featuring 24 riders.Meier mounted four bulls en route to winning the $50,000 prize. His match with Shepherd Hills Tested, who is 5-0 this season against the cowboys, was his fifth ride of the night.Though the event was a test of stamina, Meier said winning was very rewarding.“As much as my body does not like this event, my pocket sure does,” Meier said. “Winning here takes a lot more stamina and you have to keep your composure. You try your hardest on every bull you get on, but at the same time, you have to be able to manage your wind, how you breathe, and how you act in between every ride.”During the Iron Cowboy IV, the cowboy with the highest score moved onto the next round. If one cowboy received a score and his challenger was bucked off, the cowboy who made a qualified ride advanced. If both cowboys were bucked off, the cowboy who stayed on the longest, won the round.And that was the case when Meier and Jenkins faced each other during the final round, in which they took on former world champion bulls who made quick work of them. But again, Meier stayed on longer than Jenkins and clinched the $50,000 title.The show featured the PBR’s top cowboys who faced the toughest bulls around. For example, Bushwacker, who clinched the World Champion Bull title two years ago at the the PBR World Finals, and Asteroid, who won the same award last year during the Las Vegas championships, were slotted to buck in the two-man final round.After throwing off their challengers at Cowboys Stadium, both bovines are 4-0 in 2013.In addition to ousting Meier, Bushwacker, who is owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls and managed by Kent Cox of Dublin, also has disqualified Shane Proctor (in 2.48 seconds), Luke Snyder (1.98) and Mike Lee (3.31).And in addition to throwing Jenkins, Asteroid, owned by Circle T Ranch & Rodeo, also has disqualified Eduardo Aparecido (1.21 seconds), Lee (3.4 seconds) and Guilherme Marchi (4.86 seconds).Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
