Eldred Ends Frequent Flyer’s Streak of 23 Premier Series Buckoffs
By: Justin Felisko
January 20, 2019
Brennon Eldred rode Frequent Flyer for 89.5 points to finish second in the 15/15 Bucking Battle in Glendale. Photo: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Brennon Eldred was on the wrong side of a buckoff streak last season, but on Saturday night he took on the role of dragon slayer.
Eldred put an end to Frequent Flyer’s perfect record when he conquered the 5-year-old bull for 89.5 points during the 15/15 Bucking Battle Saturday night at Gila River Arena.
Frequent Flyer was undefeated on the premier series at 23-0 and had never been ridden in 29 outs at all levels of competition.
“Man, that is pretty special,” Eldred said. “I knew he was going to bring it and I had to bring it. I had to lay it all out on the line and thank God it worked out.”
Eldred finished second in the 15/15 Bucking Battle behind Alisson de Souza (89.75 points on Medicine Man) and is now ranked 12th in the world standings after picking up 90 world points.
It is the second week in which a bull with a streak of 20-plus buckoffs was ridden. Last week, Cooper Davis ended Speed Demon’s streak of 22 consecutive buckoffs.
The 24-year-old rebounded in the 15/15 Bucking Battle following his 6.19-second buckoff against Hard and Fast in Round 1.
After spending so much time in 2018 trying to explain his streak of 24 consecutive buckoffs, Eldred can now hold his head high about conquering Frequent Flyer.
It was the kind of ride that many believe Eldred is capable of when things are firing for him on all cylinders.
Eldred, who had to be evaluated by the PBR sports medicine team for a potential concussion after hitting the ground hard following the ride, was happy to turn the page toward 2019.
He did not bother watching any videos of his struggles form last year during the offseason.
“I don’t think watching me fall off is going to help anything,” Eldred said in Chicago. “I know how to ride them. I think it is just all in my head. I got to trying too hard and just listening to everybody and trying to take advice from everybody. I just had to get back to doing what got me here.”
Eldred finished 2018 29th in the world standings and was 13-for-67 (19.4 percent) with four Top-5 finishes and seven Top-10s.
The third-year PBR pro will look to build off his new momentum in Round 2 against Lil’ America (0-1, UTB).
Edred rode Lil’ America for 83.75 points last year in Anaheim, California.
Fans watch Round 2 and the Championship Round on RidePass at 3:45 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET.
The third-year PBR pro admitted 2018 was the hardest season of his career in any bull riding or rodeo association.
“It has been hard,” Eldred said. “It has been a challenge, but I feel like I am kind of over the hill now. I have been working on fixing my attitude really. That is the thing I really had to change. My attitude. Not get mad. Just the attitude in general about life.
“Have a better outlook on things and just be happy and have fun, really.”
Injury Updates
Derek Kolbaba (dislocated ribs from the Denver PBR Chute Out Velocity Tour event) and Matt Triplett (pre-existing right wrist injury) wound up not competing in the 15/15 Bucking Battle and are out of competition, according to Dr. Tandy Freeman.
According to Triplett, he needs to get an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury.
Triplett was replaced in the 15/15 Bucking Battle by Cody Nance.
Heartbreak Kid extended his buckoff streak to 25 by dispatching Nance in 3.72 seconds.
Nathan Burtenshaw is also out for Championship Sunday after spraining his right elbow (UCL) inside the bucking chute attempting to get out with Crazy Horse.
Cooper Davis (5.4 seconds on After Midnight) and Stetson Lawrence (6.48 seconds on Texas Comfort Air’s First Blood) both were bucked off in the 15/15 Bucking Battle while trying to compete with injuries.
Davis, who strained a tendon on the small finger of his riding hand during his Round 1 ride (81.5 points on Indian Medicine), was run over by After Midnight and turned down his re-ride option. Davis said after the event that he was OK.
Lawrence sustained bruises of his left thigh, knee and foot when he was stepped on after being thrown by Getting Hammered in 1.55 seconds.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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