Rostockyj and Rawson pitch a perfect three for three for the wins at the Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding
The Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding presented by Sunland Park and Casino
EL PASO, Texas (February 17, 2019) – In a sold-out El Paso Coliseum, 29-year-old Cody Rostockyj looked only left for inspiration and qualified rides as he pitched a perfect night to pack up the prizes, including a $2,000 bonus for wearing Rock N Roll Denim jeans, and the win worth $20,500 from the Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding presented by Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
“On my first two rides I was riding and feeling really strong to the left, and with the Casa Ford guys cheering me on so much in that left chute area, I picked my final four bull because he went to the left and I knew they would kind of lift me up,” said Rostockyi.
Riding two bulls, he knew well and one unknown, the second eldest bull rider on Tuff Hedeman’s invitation-only roster loaded up and made the trip to El Paso to fight back to the top of Tuff Hedeman’s invitation-only bull riding roll.
“Fun to see a guy that has been around and loves the sport be so competitive tonight, he always tries hard, and he had to fight hard to get past two of the industry's hottest riders, “ said Hedeman.
With 14 qualified rides on the board, three-time NFR qualifier Roscoe Jarboe and JT Moore both rode two and finished second and third respectively. Both Jarboe and Moore have advanced to the final four shoots out in the last two THBRT events with Moore winning Hobbs and Jarboe winning Bossier.
Laramie Craigen was fourth with the highest mark ride of the night, 91.5 points on Mike Rawson’s Speckled Chicken to win round one.
“JT (Moore) is riding really impressive, and Jarboe is one of the best going down the road, and Craigen made a great ride tonight, but I tend to root for the old guys because I am one of em,” laughed Hedeman referring to Rostockyj’s age.
Rostockyj, joined by the Casa Ford and Sunland Park families, Tuff and Clarice Hedeman celebrate fourteen years of Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding in El Paso.
“Our guys always make great efforts in El Paso, the energy in the building produces great rides and big scores, and the fans were really into it tonight – it was once again the cool place to be on Saturday night in El Paso, and I love bringing this event back to El Paso year after year,” said Hedeman.
Round One
Eight riders heard the whistle while still aboard, but it was Cody Rostockyj, the first man out who drew a familiar foe, Jeff Harris’s Dirty Little Secret. It was a bittersweet draw, he won the TH Breakout tour stop in Jacksonville on him, but also bucked off of him once, and Rostockyj knows you better bring your best to cover one of the favorite draws on tour.
"It was a rematch, but it was kind of funny, the bull was leaning, and I was motioning for them to move and they opened the gate before I was ready, I just had to make the best of it, and I was glad it worked out," said Rostockyj who placed fifth in the round with 88.5 points.
Moore spurred his way to an 86 on Barker’s 320 Stix, and Jarboe easily handed in 89 points on 14 Red Cloud (Burruss). THBRT rookie Colton Fritzlan from Rifle, Colorado answered that ride with 89.5 on J11 Chocolate Thunder, but it was Laramie Craigen that brought the fans to their feet with his 91.5 trip that would seal the lead in round one.
Additionally qualified rides would be Matt Palmer was 89.5 on 1394 Flip Ya Lid (JQH), Lane Toon 87.5 on 272 Rifleman (Davis) and Tyler Taylor 87.5 on 516 Texas Ranger (Davis).
Laramie Craigen, Hampshire, Texas, wins Round one and scored the highest marked ride of the night on 2801 Speckled Chicken, owned by Rawson Bucking Bulls
Semifinal Round
Eight competitors advanced on scores bringing four back to the Semifinal round based on time ridden.
One of those would be Brady Portenier, a THBRT rookie who debuted in Bossier City and advanced for the second consecutive event. He would tie the round for 90 points on Rawson’s 453 Tombstone with Jarboe who was 90 points on 20 Cadillac Jack (Danley and Spence).
Idaho bull rider Brady Portenier plits the semifinal round win riding on 452 Tombstone for 90 points, Rawson Bucking Bulls.
Trey Kimzey who also advanced on a heartbreaking 7.79 first round go, smoothly rode Danny Mason's new bull on the team, -31 Addiction, for 88 points.
Rostockyj finished last in the round riding 472 Curly Bill (Burruss).
“I actually got on him in Lake Charles two weeks ago, and he bucked me down in 7.9 seconds, it was a grudge and redemption tonight, but then he got caught up in the chutes and came out backwards causing an off trip, he went right and then back left,” said Rostockyj.
3-time NFR qualifier Roscoe Jarboe splits the semifinal round on 20 Cadillac Jack, Danley-Spence Bucking Bulls.
Shoot Out
With three riding two, Laramie Craigen would advance to his first Shoot Out round with Rostockyj, Jarboe, and Moore.
Leading the pack was Roscoe Jarboe with 179 on two. He selected 30 Off the Rez (Burruss). Coming in second on two with 175 points, Cody Rostockyj had the second pick of the Shoot Out and chose a bull Tuff Hedeman said he could win on.
"I have to be brutally honest, I did not know that bull, I knew one bull out of the four and I had seen that one a lot and knew he was not ridden much, so I picked a bull that went to the left because I was feeling strong to the left after two rides that both went left and really…the Casa Ford guys in the box on the left chute delivery – they really cheer me on, and it helps.”
Counting on his Casa Ford box seat of enthusiastic fans, Rostockyj would bring them and the entire coliseum to their feet as the lone rider to cover his bull riding 279 Streets of Bakersfield (Burruss Bucking Bulls) for 90 points and the win.
“If you didn’t pick up a check on your way out, it’s because you didn’t ride well enough on this night, JT had a chance, Jarboe had a chance if you ride - whatever you have drawn - you are going to win something,” said Hedeman.
Teachers Federal Credit Union Stick Bull Riding Champion Reato Martinez, 4 years old
BULL TEAM CHALLENGE
Accepting his sixth THBT Challenge check from Tuff Hedeman, Mike Rawson of Martinsville, Texas is grateful for the opportunity the THBRT gives him to do what he loves. Many ponder the success of his bull teams during the last 12 months, but the secret to Mike Rawson’s success is in his parallel viewpoint to Tuff Hedeman’s event strategy. "In my opinion, a really good bull comes out and does his job -- which is to buck, getting points for the cowboy while entertaining the crowd," said Rawson.
Rawson was one of two teams to post a perfect night with three qualified rides and a total score of 286.50. Laramie Craigen tapped off Mike’s favorite child, 2801 Speckled Chicken to win the opening round with 91.5 points and that score would hold as the highest marked ride of the night.
“I was worried about 2801’s match with Craigen because of his size, he's a bigger rider, but it turned out good," said Rawson. Good might be an understatement, Craigen and Speckled Chicken were the round winners and the second rankest ride score of the night with a 90 point bull score.
Lane Toon assisted Rawson when he covered 272 Rifleman for 87.5 points in round one. JT Moore was matched with Rawson’s newest addition, 3015 YoYo, a bull that is still learning the ropes and chutes of the tour, but it didn’t slow JT Moore down, and they were a picture perfect 88.5 points.
The rankest scored bull of the night was JD Knapp’s Kookaburra who posted a 91.5 bull score against Johnathan Brown who lasted only 2.92 seconds. “
CASA FORD THBRT RESULTS
SHOOT OUT
1, Cody Rostockyj, Lorena, Texas 90 points on 279 Streets of Bakersfield (Burress), $18,250. 2, Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, SD, No Score on 30 Off the Rez (Burruss), $1,000. 3, JT More, Alvin, Texas, NS Fat Boy (Harris), $1,000. 4, Laramie Craigen, Hampshire, Texas, NS on 212 Woody (Burruss), $1,000.
AVERAGE RESULTS
1, Cody Rostockyj, 265 points on 3, $20,500. 2, Roscoe Jarboe, 179 on 3, $2,250. 3, JT Moore, 174.5 on 3, $2250. 4, Laramie Craigen, 91.5 on 3, $1,500.
BULL TEAM RESULTS
1, Mike Rawson, Martinsville, TX, 3 qualified rides, 286.50 points, $18,000. 2, Burruss Bucking Bulls, Bradford, AR, 3 qualified rides, 285 pts, $13,500. 3, Harris/Rocking C Bucking Bulls, Palestine, TX, 2 qualified rides, 282 pts, $9,000. 4, JQH Bucking Bulls, Amarillo, Texas, 1 qualified ride, 281.80 pts, $4,500.
Watch the Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour on TuffRideTV.com. Follow Tuff and the tour on www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com and on Facebook (Tuff Hedeman) and IG @TuffHedemanOfficial. For more information contact Leigh Ann Schroeder, Tuffhedemanpr@gmail.com, 940.902.1112.
