Mexican Champion Bull Riders Invited to compete at Tuff Hedeman El Paso Bull Riding
Wild West Weekend features top-ranked International Champion Bull Riders
EL PASO, Texas – February 31, 2018 – Four-time World Champion Bull Rider and Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Tuff Hedeman, announced this week he has invited two highly decorated bull riding champions from Mexico to compete in the 2018 Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding presented by Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. Hedeman known for cultivating talent in the bull riding arena announced today that invitations to compete at the Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour had been issued to Mexican bull riders Hector Lerma and Fransisco Garcia. For three decades Hedeman's legendary mentoring and leadership has bull riders following him onto the dirt as he provided the opportunity for them to win money while competing on great livestock.
Hector Lerma, a two time Mexico National Champion bull rider (2015, 2016) from Saltillo, Coahuila is the former PRCA Mexico Champion (2016), and Champion of Cuernos Chuecos Tour (2016). Herma was recently a finalist at the PRCA Ram Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, Florida in 2017 and is the 2017 Los Cruces Bucking for the Cure event champion.
“It is exciting to have these two bull riders compete in El Paso in what will definitely be a hometown crowd advantage for them, they are both proven champions and should compete well at this level of pro event,” said Hedeman.
Francisco Garcia, a two time (2015, 2016) Campeon Nacional Champion, has been a professional bull rider for eleven years and won numerous titles including three-time Coahuila State Champion and Chihuahua Epic Battle Champion. In addition to riding successfully in Mexico, he has competed on the Professional Bull Riders Inc. tour and was a finalist in the PRCA's Ram Circuit Finals in 2016 and advanced to the semifinal round in the 2017 El Paso event.
The 6'2, 175-pound thirty-year-old bull rider from Leon, Mexico will join the number one bull rider in the world, Sage Kimzey, and the top twenty-four bull riders on the dirt inside the El Paso County Coliseum for the three-round tournament style bull riding set to begin at 8 pm on Saturday night. The annual bucking bull blowout that is the final event of Hedeman’s Wild West Weekend sells out each year at the El Paso Coliseum.
There are no guarantees in bull riding; the only way for cowboys to earn a paycheck is to ride better than the rest of the 24-man field. The field of competition which starts with 24 riders, then 12 and finally 4 in the Shoot Out where they will battle for the lion’s share of $30,000 in prize money. The night’s excitement will culminate as the final four bull riders will get a third opportunity to ride for the cash.
The annual Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Presented by Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino returns for the 13th consecutive year to the El Paso County Coliseum where Hedeman’s national bull riding tour is making preparations at the El Paso County Coliseum for what Hedeman is calling the “Wild West Weekend.”
The Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding is known for its action-packed performances that keep fans on the edge of their seats and every time Tuff Hedeman returns to his hometown of El Paso it is always a great show! From having world class bulls matched up with superstar riders, to upbeat music and enthusiastic fans and a few show surprises here and there, there is something for everyone.
Tickets on Sale now at the El Paso County Coliseum, Cavenders, or Ticketmaster.com. Prices start at $15 to $75 and VIP seating available! Fans are encouraged to get their tickets now as the show is expected to be a sell-out. Tickets are available at www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com and ticketmaster.com. Follow Tuff Hedeman on Facebook @TuffHedeman and Instagram @TuffHedemanOfficial. Schedule and appearances will be released at a later date.