Austin Gamblers protected roster rider Ezekiel Mitchell and Carlos Garcia are co-champions of the event with matching aggregate scores of 86.00 points. Ezekiel and Carlos are tied for #16 in the PBR Challenger Series standings
Recap written by Music City Memo
The next stop on the 2023 PBR Challenger Series schedule was the PBR Ironpeddlers Chute Out At Tryon International. This two-day event featured a unique competition setting consisting of an outdoor arena located in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mills Spring, North Carolina. The arena is just one attraction in a first-class facility which includes onsite restaurants, shopping, lodging, and family entertainment. Holding the event outdoors allowed for the attending spectators to take in the breathtaking landscape and picturesque sunset while watching the rankest bull riding action in the western part of the Tar Heel State.
The event’s format featured a long round on night one followed by a long round and short go Championship Round on night two. The nine riders with the highest scores and/or who stayed on their bull the longest in the long rounds are invited back to the Championship Round. Riders that place will add crucial points that will accumulate toward the PBR Challenger Series Championship in Las Vegas in mid-October.
In total, thirty-two riders entered for a chance to find success in the mountains. Notable riders among the field were five-time PBR World Finalist Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, TX) who relocated to North Carolina, three-time PBR World Finalist Rafael dos Santos (Quitman, GA), and 2023 PBR World Finalist Wyatt Rogers (Hulbert, OK).
During Round One, the bovine athletes were in complete control as they allowed only one qualified ride. The lone score was earned by the night’s shotgun rider, Dustin Herman (Dudley Shoals, NC). Dustin won the long round by riding Don’t Come Easy (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers) for 85.00 points.
On the bull side, during Round One, Blake Sharp and Mike Miller’s bovine athletes excelled as each stock contractor recorded four bulls that scored 42.00 points or higher. The top score of the round was Haunted Gold (Blake Sharp) with 44.00 points.
Twenty-seven riders returned for Round Two looking for redemption and the chance to chase Dustin Herman for the round and event win. Despite the riders’ best efforts, the bulls remained dominant as they surrendered only three qualified rides in the long round. At the top of the night’s leaderboard, there was a tie for the long round win between Ezekiel Mitchell and Carlos Garcia (Abingdon, VA). Ezekiel rode Nighttime Crime (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) and Carlos rode Tall Boy (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers) for an identical 86.00-point score. The remaining qualified ride was earned by Trent Nugent (Kirbyville, TX) who rode Divorce Papers (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for 84.50 points.
On the bull side, during Round Two, Blake Sharp supplied the prevalent bull power as five of his bulls earned 42.00-point or higher scores. Three bulls tied for the top score of the round. Firetime (Blake Sharp/Chris Utz/Carey Brothers), Cooter Brown (Lucas Manning/Waller Brothers Cattle Co), and Pneu-Dart’s Chief Wahoo (Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) each scored 43.50 points.
During the Championship Round, the powerful athleticism of the bulls was on display as none of the riders earned qualified scores.
On the bull side, during the Championship Round, two bulls tied for the top score of the round. Swipe Right (Blake Sharp) and Smooth Criminal (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls) received duplicate 44.00-point scores.
When the dust settled, Austin Gamblers protected roster rider Ezekiel Mitchell and Carlos Garcia became co-champions of the PBR Ironpeddlers Chute Out At Tryon International Challenger Series Event with equivalent aggregate scores of 86.00 points.
For their efforts, Ezekiel and Carlos each gained 88.00 event points. Currently, both Ezekiel and Carlos are tied for #16 in the Challenger Series standings. In addition, both riders earned their first PBR Challenger Series event win this season.
After the completed event, three bulls tied for Bull of the Event. Haunted Gold (Blake Sharp), Swipe Right (Blake Sharp), and Smooth Criminal (Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls) each delivered 44.00-point scores.
Looking ahead, in the coming week, three PBR Challenger Series events are scheduled. These events are the PBR Stockyards Showcase in Fort Worth, TX, the 24th Annual Boot Barn Jerome Davis PBR Invitational in Archdale, NC, and the Slick Rock Challenge in Rocksprings, TX.
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