Bull Bash returns to Bonners Ferry
Photo by Mandi Bateman Bulls and bull riders took to the air at the Bull Bash.
Photos by Mandi Bateman Hometown bull rider Jesse Luther rides Smokin Dee for a score of 69 points at Friday’s Bull Bash event.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Blake Rice and Brody Rice show that the cowboy spirit knows no age.
Photo by Mandi Bateman After the bull riding was over, the arena was turned over to the team ropers.
Photo by Mandi Bateman It was a wild ride on Bull Bash day.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Mindy Ahner and Mallory Stippich, part of the 9B Riders Drill team, carry the American flag with pride.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The Wild Pony Races had the audience on the edge of their seats.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Bullfighters, Drew Payne and Tyler McDade, put their lives on the line for the bull riders.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Andy Rice (header) and brother Matt Rice (heeler), take on the competition in the team roping competition.
Photo by Mandi Bateman As the sun went down, the competion kicked up,
Photo by Mandi Bateman Andy Rice and the American Flag during the National Anthem.
BONNERS FERRY — In a cloud of whirling dust and thunderous hoofbeats, man versus beast once again came to the Boundary County Fairgrounds as the Selkirk Saddle Club presented the annual Bull Bash, a sanctioned event by Elite Professional Bullriders, on June 9.
Announcer Barney Sheridan and Barrelman Don Landis kept the packed stadium cheering and laughing. The audience participation was high from beginning to end of the event thanks to the expertise of these two long time professionals.
Judges Randy Rauenzahn and Brett Bronson kept a close eye on the tough competition, while bullfighters Drew Payne and Tyler McDade put their skills to the test, keeping the bull riders safe.
Contractors Wyatt Bucking Bulls, Mel Layton, Mile Hi and Whitford provided a top lineup of fiercely bucking bulls, throwing many riders before their eight seconds were up. Only three riders were able to best the bulls in the long round, automatically advancing to the short round.
Tristan O’Neal had the best score on the short round, scoring 73 points for his ride. Matt Loomis rode the Mile Hi Rodeo bull, 618 Velvet Rock, for a 72 point ride. Jesse Luther drew the bull 29 Smokin Deer, riding him to a 69 point score.
For the short round, the seven riders with the longest times were chosen to compete with the three riders who had scored in the long round.
All-around Cowboy, Gerald Eash, swept the short round on 654 Popo, a bull owned by Kelly Wyatt. Eash gave the spectators a thrilling show, scoring 88 points.
The bulls were not the only event that had the crowd cheering. The 9B Riders Drill team kicked off the event, performing precise choreographed maneuvers to music. There was a team roping competitions, interspersed throughout the event, as well as The Wild Pony Races.
The Wild Pony Races pitted a team of three children, between the ages of 8-13, against a wild pony or mule. The team had to get one rider on the unruly pony and that rider had to stay on for three jumps. A team from Spokane bested their mount in 10.4 seconds, winning the competition.
Food and drink was provided by several vendors, while Mugsy’s Tavern and Grill kept the crowd at the end of the arena happy with their beer garden.
This years Bull Bash was packed with adrenaline and laughter, running smoothly from beginning to end.