Kimzey Debuts with a Win in Window Rock

Championship Bull Riding presented by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation

WINDOW ROCK, Arizona, September 8, 2016 – Reigning CBR World Champion Sage Kimzey outlasted four bulls and twenty-three riders in his return to the Championship Bull Riding arena in Window Rock, Arizona. Kimzey captured $15,575 and his first event title of the new season as he debuted at the Navajo Nation CBR presented by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation on the second stop of the 2017 CBR Made in America Road to Cheyenne tour.

“There are no greater rodeo or bull riding fans than here at the Navajo Nation, its incredible people and crowds and they are knowledgeable about the sport, it’s amazing how super supportive they are, it is always fun to come out here because the fans, they love it,” said Kimzey after signing autographs for almost two hours after the event concluded.

Kimzey, who was absent from the first tour stop due to a scheduling conflict, made up ground this week adding 266 points to the leaderboard which placed him in the number two position in the CBR Road to Cheyenne World Standings after two events, but according to the four time World Champ, it was not easy to get past one of his fiercest competitors.

“Demond (Haynes) is a tough competitor, and the bulls at this caliber are all great, it’s a toss-up of who stays on in the final four,” said Kimzey.

In addition to Kimzey’s lion’s share of the $30,000 purse, he took home a pair of custom Fenoglio Boots, a cowboy hat from American Hat Co., and a custom engraved Hyo Silver trophy buckle and valuable points on the CBR’s Road to Cheyenne televised bull riding tour.

Round One
It was a dead heat after section one between the riders and the bulls as four qualified rides energized the fans. Kimzey set the pace early as the number one man out of the chutes. He rode 125 No Dry County (Hurst) for the first time for 89.5 points. Wyatt Rogers answered with 87.5 points on the CBR’s bull of the year candidate and National Finals Rodeo bull Yellowhair, owned by Lyndal Hurst.

Riding on special invitation, New Mexico’s Travis Briscoe rode Championship Pro Rodeo’s Comanche Moon for 88.5 points. Demond Haynes of Houston tied the lead with 89.5 points on Wreck ‘Em (Green Acres/Rawson-Harris).

The bulls regained control of the second section with only two riders, J.T. Petit and Denton Fugate earning scores. Native rider Cody Jesus was 7.68 seconds in his homeland debut, as the bulls would ultimately take control of the round.

Section three was all about the new guys as rookie sensation Boudreaux Campbell earned the highest score of the group spurring Jeri Harmon’s perennial bucker, 9100 Kojack for 88.5 points. Also new to the tour, David Hudson from Athens, Texas, was the last rider to post a score of 87 points on 121 Bloodshot (C & M).

Semifinals
With eight qualified rides on the leaderboard, four rides would advance to the second round based on time ridden including Jonathan Brown and Cody Jesus who rode 7.75 and 7.68 seconds respectively on their first bulls. Mickey Andrews and Demetrius Mitchell would also have a second opportunity to advance to the final four based on time.

The crowd fell silent as the first ten riders bucked off, all in under six seconds. With Sage Kimzey and Demond Haynes tied at 89.5 points apiece from round one, the back judge’s score awarded Haynes the number one slot which determined which bull he would attempt in the semifinals. Kimzey was matched with his old friend C735 Jack Tar, a grudge match that would put Kimzey on top after he rode him for 88.5 points. Haynes would also get an old friend, EG25T Destination Unknown (Jaynes) who he once rode for 96 points when the bull was just three years old.

Haynes and 25T would earn 90 points for the round win and Haynes earned the edge he needed to select his final four bull first.

Shoot Out Round
Haynes would select Sharky, a new bull from Silver Creek. Kimzey decided to stick with JQH and chose Loan Shark. Campbell took NFR round winning bull Cactus Jungle (Hurst) which left Travis Briscoe with Silver Creek’s Lead Pipe Cinch.

Briscoe was up first and was awarded a reride on Silver Creek’s Lead Pipe Cinch, but in a surprising twist, the veteran bull rider opted to take his 77 point score, a difficult decision that ultimately proved profitable as it earned him a $8,675 check. If he had bucked off the reride his earnings for the night would have been $1,500.

Up next was Boudreaux Campbell who could not quite get the highly decorated 207 Cactus Jungle to the eight second whistle. Kimzey would ride next and after a struggle in the chute, he was awarded a re ride.

“My first bull came out and the bull was not up to par so I was rewarded a reride..I knew the new bull was a good bull, (Venom). You have to clear your head when you get that tired. I had a second chance at a lot of money and crucial points for world standings, I asked myself before I rode that last bull, how bad do you want it?” describing the shoot out round to a group of reporters.

Kimzey was 88 on the reride bull Venom, owned by Ty Rinaldo Bucking Bulls, but Hanes was patiently waiting in the chutes. Haynes who selected 21 Sharky came down early on the bull from Silver Creek.

Kimzey and Briscoe would split the bulk of the shoot out round prize money as the only two riders to cover their draws in the final four man round.

World Standings Race
World Champion Sage Kimzey made the most of his first CBR tour stop. Now perched just two points behind leader Taryl Smith with 266 points, Kimzey heads to Laughlin to attempt to gain the number one ranking in CBR. Smith, the leader with 268 points was unable to defend his title in Window Rock due to a groin injury received in Huron, South Dakota during the CBR season opener on September 1.

Rookie rider Campbell Boudreaux continued his consistency qualifying for his second final four shoot out round. Campbell came up short of the 8 second whistle in the final round, but added valuable points from round one to his world standings third place position where he is tied with Corey Atwell and Demond Haynes at 179.5.

Brought to you by the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation, the annual CBR event was part of the 70th Annual Navajo Nation Fair celebration, the largest Native American fair.

Shoot Out Window Rock Results
1, Sage Kimzey, Strong City, OK, 266 points on Loan Shark (JQH) , $15,575.00. 2, Travis Briscoe on Lead Pipe Cinch (Silver Creek), Edgewood, NM, $8,675.00.

Average Results
1, Sage Kimzey, 266 points, $15,575.00. 2, Travis Briscoe, 165.5, $8,675.00. 3, Demond Haynes, Houston, TX, 179.5, $2,250.00. 4, Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, TX, 88.5, $1,500. 5, Wyatt Rogers, Rose City, OK, 87.5, $500.

Bull Team Results
Jaynes Gang The Jaynes Gang / Johnston & McKinney, 282.34, $20,000. 2, JQH Bucking Bulls #1, 276.60, $12,000. 3, Championship Pro Rodeo/Kevin Ruggs, 273.95, $8,000. 4. Barker and Barnett, 273.67, $5,000.

For interviews, press credentials and more information please contact Leigh Ann Schroeder at 940.902.1112 or leighann@theshortround.com.

About Championship Bull Riding –
Located near the cowboy capital of the world, historic Weatherford, Texas, Championship Bull Riding (CBR) is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the very best elements of the sport. Under the direction of CEO Benny Cude and bull riding icon Tuff Hedeman, CBR has grown into an organization that works to put the best riders on the best bulls, delivering world-class qualified rides and entertainment to its legions of world-side fans. CBR has two tours, riders begin in the Horizon Series earning points to move onto the elite Road to Cheyenne Tour. The Road to Cheyenne Tour culminates in July in Wyoming at the legendary Cheyenne Frontier Days where the world champion bull rider earns a $100,000 bonus. The CBR Bull Team Challenge is also part of the tour events where stock contractors bring their best bulls and compete for annual cash prizes that total over $1 million. Providing opportunities for contestants, stock contractors, fans and sponsors is why CBR is the REAL COWBOY SPORTtm. CBR is featured at over 70 venues across the United States with national television programming on the Fox Sports Networks for 26 consecutive weeks in prime time. Follow CBR on all major social media platforms as Championship Bull Riding and CBRbull.com. For more information visit www.cbrbull.com or call 817-626-BULL (2855).

Courtesy of CBR