Wolford captures back-to-back tournament wins, Murphy remains atop standings for Jäger Ranch
Anne Bleiker

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The 2008 World’s Toughest Rodeo^™ featuring Toughest Cowboy^™ presented by Jägermeister headed back to the State of North Carolina for the fourth stop on the nine stop tour. The Greensboro Coliseum provided the backdrop to this ironmen of rodeo competition where the cowboys wear jerseys and ride in the three roughstock events in one night in a new match style competition. Erik Wolford, who is coming off a big win in Glendale, Ariz., kept his winning streak alive and captured his second tournament win of the 2008 series in Greensboro, the home to Wrangler Jeans and Shirts.

Wolford, of Clinton, Mich., was matched against Logan Hodson of Telwka, B.C. Wolford, who is sponsored by Wrangler, swept the match scoring 80-plus rides in the bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He added four wins to his series total and trails Bandy Murphy by one win.  

“It feels good to have back-to-back wins versus back-to-back losses like the first two tournaments,” Wolford said. “I am not sure what was going on with my riding in the first two stops, but I am feeling like my old self now and hope to keep this winning streak going.”

Unfortunately for Hodson, he needed to pick-up some wins in Greensboro to stay alive in the competition. After coming up short on the night, he was eliminated along with Chad Eubank of Cleburne, Texas.

Eubank, who is sponsored by Super Clean, was matched against Shane Proctor of Powell, Wyo. Proctor, who won the second tournament in Raleigh, N.C., had another good showing in Greensboro sweeping the match and finishing second to Wolford. Proctor is one win behind Murphy and Nelson Tsosie for Jäger Ranch.

Toughest Cowboy presented by Jägermeister is revolutionizing the sport by introducing an exciting and innovative format to audiences across the United States. Unlike other rodeos where riders usually compete in just one discipline, Toughest Cowboy is an unprecedented test of endurance as all competitors must ride in three disciplines in one night (Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding and Bull Riding). The events feature head-to-head matches throughout the season leading to the playoffs and championship…ultimately crowning someone the Toughest Cowboy Champion.

Jägermeister, the country’s best selling shot brand and top selling imported liqueur, is the first presenting sponsor of the Toughest Cowboy rodeo competition and tour in 2008. The Champion at the end of the season will be awarded the deed to the beautiful Jäger Ranch located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

Murphy of Weatherford, Okla., continues to lead the way in the standings for Jäger Ranch with 13 wins and a total of 929 points. Murphy, who is sponsored by The Home Depot, was matched against Jared Green of Socorro, N.M., in Greensboro and finished with three wins to one.

Tsosie, of Farmington, N.M., was matched against 2006 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider B.J. Schumacher of Hillsboro, Wis. Tsosie swept the match and added four wins to his series total to remain second in the overall standings behind Murphy with 13 wins and 770 total points.

The top eight competitors will continue down the “Road to Columbus” with the next stop being at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information on this one-of-a-kind event visit www.toughestcowboy.com.