Colorado cowboy Colten Fritzlan wins Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding riding on 51 Red Armor - 90.5 points in the Shoot Out round. Photo by Todd Brewer
Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour
Colten Fritzlan won the 2020 Casa Ford Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding title after a perfect 3-for-3 night, capped by a 90.5 trip aboard 51 Red Armor to close out three rounds of intense bull riding in front of a sold-out El Paso County Coliseum.
“Tuff’s bull ridings are legit, you just can’t beat these events, the atmostphere, the crowds, and Tuff does such a good job putting it on with the bulls and it’s all so professional,” said the PRCA rookie bull rider.
Fritzlan, who was scheduled to ride in San Angelo on the same night, was thankful he made the decision to come to El Paso.
“I originally told Tuff I wasn’t sure I could make it and I talked to him again and he told me to let him know when I made a decision and I am really thankful Tuff held my spot,” said Fritzlan.
It may have been Fritzlan’s second time to compete in El Paso but it was his first wearing Panhandle Rock & Roll Jeans that collected him a bonus check from Panhandle for $2,000.
Crediting the fans and Tuff Hedeman, the nineteen-year-old bull rider from Rifle, Colorado, had this to say about the night, his first Hedeman title win, and the prize package including a check for $16, 275.00.
“When Reid rode it darn sure lit a fire under me to ride that little red bull and I remembered what Tuff told me – keep it simple, keep your hand shut and do your job.”
Fritzlan, a sophomore on the West Texas College rodeo team in Snyder, credits the fans and good advice from Tuff Hedeman for his first major win on the four-time World Champion’s tour.
Twenty-six riders from nine states, Mexico, and Australia made fifteen qualified rides to kick off the fifteenth edition of this legendary bull riding with four cowboys riding two bulls in the sudden death style format. After two hours and three rounds, it was Reid Barker and Colten Fritzlan, who each rode three head to win the lion’s share of the $30,000 prize money.
“We had about 10 young riders that really impressed me tonight, some that didn’t make the whistle, but their effort and energy was amazing and I look forward to seeing them again,” said Hedeman.
Matt Palmer, Huron THBRT Champion, wins round 1 in El Paso aboard 14 Red Cloud for 88 points. Photo by Todd Brewer
Mexican bull rider Luis Escobedo, scored 87.5 points in round one on 30 Dirty 30 owned by Messick/Hanson Bucking Bulls
Round One
Brett Custer and Luis Escobedo, the first two riders on the day sheet, jump-started the rowdy fans posting an 84 and 87.5 to get the fans on their feet early. Nine qualified rides later, it was Matt Palmer's 88 on NFR bull 14 Red Cloud (Burruss) that won the round. Behind him was a pair of 87.5’s from Escobedo and Colten Fritzlan, who had the bull 423 Hacksaw Ridge into his hand.
“I knew my first one cause Trey Kimzey had rode him in Hobbs in the Shoot out, and he changed it up tonight he is usually around to the left but tonight he faked left and went right first but we still made it work,” continued Colten.
Reid Barker splits the Semifinal round win with 90.5 on Danny Mason’s 55 Money Maker. Mason’s team won the El Paso Bull Team Challenge.
Tyler Taylor began his night with an 86.5 on 423 Black Silhouette, and Hobbs Shoot Out round qualifier Garrett Jones comfortably rode 617 Thunder for 86 points. Jones who did not have enough bull to challenge the leaderboard, would advance to the semis. Reid Barker also posted 86 on 411 Scrappy.
Denton Fugate with 90.5 points on Hurst’s Rip. Fuguate split the round win and Hurst was second in Bull Team comptition.
Denton Fugate, who flew in just in time to make the opening introductions was 84.5 on Space Cowboy. Daniel Keeping, who earned his first check from Tuff Hedeman as a steer rider in Fort Worth, turned in an 83.5 on a bull not far from home, 322 Primetime owned by Larry Barker Bucking Bulls of Las Cruces.
Semifinals
Nine bull riders advanced to the semifinal round on their ride scores with four drawing back on time ridden. The bulls would slow the scoring down, only allowing four pro cowboys to hear the whistle while still on top. Disappointing the crown, the first six would buck off with none lasting more than 5 seconds.
The first bull rider to ride two, the crowd appreciated Denton Fugate’s spectacular 90.5 ride aboard Lyndal Hurst's 6835 Rip.
Garrett Jones would answer Fugate’s ride with an 88, on 191 Big Jake (Rawson) and another leaderboard change.
Barker continued the contagion of qualified rides and would win the round with a 91 on everybody’s favorite bull, 55 Moneymaker from Danny Mason and Sharon Smith Bucking Bulls.
“First time I saw him in Hobbs, I pulled his rope, and I breathed a sigh of relief thinking this good be mine tonight. He had a lot of timing to the right with rhythm after two or three rounds he gave me a big blinker, kicked twice and came back around away from my hand,” said Barker.
Barker was now in the driver’s seat with 177 points on two. Taylor and Escobedo would buck off with Fritzlan, and Palmer left to ride. Fritzlan would steal the lead from Barker with 178.5 on two after a thrilling 90 points on Sledgehammer (Knapp).
“I had seen one video of him and my buddy had been on him at a PBR, knew I wanted him and could win some money on him,” said Fritzlan about his second out.
Huron Champion and El Paso feature rider Matt Palmer was the last out who could bump Jones from advancing, but Richardson’s Lil Willard beat him out of the chute gate at 1.58 seconds.
Shoot Out
Four riders now 2-for-2 on the night advanced and huddled behind the chutes with Hedeman to select their opponents. Fritzlan, the leader with 178.5 on two, had the first pick, and on the advice of Hedeman, he chose 51 Red Armor (Burruss).
“Tuff and I looked at the list and Garrett had shown me a video, Tuff said I would pick this little red bull, he fits you,” added Colten.
Reid Barker on Barney Fife for 86.5 points in the Shoot Out round
Barker was up next he wasted no time taking Barney Fife to attempt the win.
Denton Fugate on High Hopes in the Shoot Out round
Fugate selected High Hopes which left Garrett Jones with Western Skies (Burruss).
Garrett was 6.38 second on 455 Western Skies (Burruss), followed by Fugate's 5.58 on 027 High Hopes (Harris). Barker put up 86.5 on 118 Barney Fife (Rawson).
Garrett Jones on Western Skies in the Shoot Out Round
Fritzlan brought the house down with 90.5 points on 51 for his first THBRT title.
“When Reid rode it darn sure lit a fire under me to ride that little red bull and I remembered what Tuff told me – keep it simple, keep your hand shut and do your job,” said Fritzlan.
“I always try to give them the advice to pick the best bull o the I always
Tuff Hedeman Bull Team Challenge
The bull team of brother and sister Danny Mason and Sharon Smith of Mineral Wells, Texas, won the El Paso Bull Team Competition with 281.84 points. According to Mason, the winning team performed as expected with their usual trips.
Danny Mason’s Black Silhouette - Tyler Taylor
Anchoring the team was 55 Money Maker with Reid Barker’s 90.5 ride score and a bull score of 88. The winning team consisted of two qualified ride scores and one 4.84 second attempt by Lukasey Morris on 3112 Dirty Blonde, who earned an 88.5 bull score, the highest of this trio of buckers. Tyler Taylor was 86.5 on 423 Black Silhouette, and Reid Barker was 90.5 on Money Maker during the semifinal round.
Lukasey Morris on Mason and Smith’s Dirty Blonde
55 Moneymaker, a 2019 PBR Finals bull sired by 77 Scout, is a money earner who developed from the futurity and derby competitions. Lyndal Hurst was second with 279.99 points and two rides from Reid Barker and Denton Fugate.
Scott Burruss and Interstate Treating Inc were third, and Messick/Hanson Bucking Bulls came in fourth place.
Rankest scored bull of the night in the team competition was former PBR World Champion bull rider Owen Washburn's Dust Bender, who posted 91 points on the bull side while bucking Brett Custer off in 1.72 seconds in round two.
THBRT Bull Team Results
1, Danny Mason/Sharon Smith, Mineral Wells, Tex., 281.84 points, $26,000. 2, Lyndal Hurst, 279.99, $19,500. 3, Burruss/Interstate Treating, Inc., 277.3 pts, $13,000. 4, Messick/Hanson Bucking Bulls, 275.69, $6,500.
Danny Mason and Sharon Smith win El Paso Bull Team Competition worth $26,000. Their team’s cumlative points were 281.84.
El Paso Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Results
1, Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, CO, 269 pts on three bulls, $14,275.00. 2, Reid Barker, Comfort, TX, 263 pts on 3, $8,725. 3, Denton Fugate, Dixon, MO, 175 on 3, $2,250. 4, Garrett Jones, Devers, Tex., 174 on 3, $2,250.
Approximately 26 bull riders will gather next in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the South Point Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding at the South Point Arena on February 29 for the third stop on the 2020 Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour. Catch all the action live or on-demand at TuffHedemanTV.com
For more information, contact Leigh Ann Schroeder, 940.902.1112, tuffhedemanpr@gmail.com. Follow the THBRT on Facebook Tuff Hedeman, Instagram @TuffHedemanOfficial, and live stream TuffHedemanTV.
