Thursday kicked off three nights of bull riding action at the North Texas Fair and Rodeo with the first performance of the annual Bull Blowout and cowboy protection team competition.
The field featured riders from across Texas, with a single entrant from Oklahoma, competing for the chance to take home a check and championship buckle — if their score can hold for two more nights of bull riding.
Houston’s Neil Holmes was the only rider to cover two bulls, winning with his total score of 156. Decatur’s Cameron Bland placed second with a 78, followed by Stephenville’s Taylor Toves.
Teams of two bullfighters work together to protect the cowboy after he is thrown or dismounts the bull. The bullfighters are judged on their ability to communicate with each other, their athleticism and the split-second decisions that must be made with a bull breathing down their neck.
Team RDL Supply’s Nathan Harp and Colby Klum came out in the top spot with a five-bull score of 191. Placing second was Team Miller Lite, Weston Rutkowski and Zach Arthur, with a score of 186. Third place went to Team Darr/Cat, Jake King and Daniel Dyson, with a score of 180.
