Professional Bull Riders Underway at National Western

Susan Kanode

 

            DENVER, Colo. --- The Denver Chute-Out had the first of three performances at the National Western Stock Show on Monday night.

Leading the competition is rising star Reuben Yutzy from Dundee, Ohio. Yutzee, rode the D & H Cattle Company Bull named Rock Face for 90 points. He is less than two points in the lead.

Right behind Yutzy is Ned Cross from Dorris, Calif., and Cord McCoy from Tupelo, Okla. Cross had an 88.5-point ride on Hebert Bucking Bulls’ Buffalo Hump. Ty Rinaldo, from just down the road at Larkspur, owns the bull Black Magic that McCoy got on. When the judges added up the scores for the bull and for McCoy, McCoy had an 88 by his name.

Monday night’s action saw a total of 15 riders, one third of the 45, getting scores. A new bunch of 45 riders will compete on Tuesday night. The best riders from both nights will advance to a second round on Wednesday. Then their scores will be added together to bring the top 15 back to a final round also on Wednesday. At the conclusion of Wednesday night’s competition, the Denver Chute-Out champion will be crowned.

Tuesday night’s riders include the reigning world champion Kody Lostroh from Longmont, Colo., and Chris Shivers who won world titles in 2002 and 2003. Shivers also won the Denver Chute-Out title in 2001.

Action gets underway Tuesday night at 7:30