The Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR) extends congratulations to Ross Coleman (Molalla, Ore.) for claiming the $100,000 championship title at the 2006 Calgary Stampede held during the past week in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Coleman entered the final round on Sunday afternoon tied for first place and was able to hold on for the event title.
"It was a great experience," said Coleman. "I defended my title for the richest ride in history. This was the second time someone was able to ride for $100,000 in one ride and I wanted to keep the title."
Coleman rode eight bulls during the week-long event in Canada. In the championship round he rode Kesler Rodeo Company's three-time Canadian Bull of the Year, Shiver & Shake to 92.5 points. Coleman returns to the United States with $112,000 Canadian Dollars in his pocket.
"I would like to thank the Calgary Stampede committee for inviting the PBR riders to compete this year," Coleman added. "I had an awesome time and hope I get to come back next year."
The 2006 Calgary Stampede featured a new tournament format this year. Cowboys from the United States and Canada were invited to compete for the $1.6 million dollar purse. The champion in each event was awarded $100,000. Other PBR bull riders competing at the Calgary Stampede were Cody Whitney (Asher, Okla.), Adriano Moraes (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Greg Potter (Queensland, Australia), Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas), J.W. Hart (Overbrook, Okla.), and Wiley Petersen (Fort Hall, Idaho).
Coleman is the first PBR cowboy to win the $100,000 grand prize at the Calgary Stampede. He joins a long list of previous Calgary Stampede champions including PBR bull riders, 1994 champion, Adriano Moraes; 1997 champion, J.W. Hart; 1998 champion and current PBR President, Ty Murray (Stephenville, Texas); 2001 champion, Scott Schiffner (Stettler, AB, Canada); 2002 and 2003 champion Justin Volz (Charlie Lake, BC, Canada); and 2004 champion, Robert Bowers (Brooks, AB, Canada).
This win marks the second time in bull riding history for Coleman to collect a $100,000 paycheck. His first was in 2001 when he covered Jerry Nelson's bull Copenhagen Tuff-E-Nuff in the Mossy Oak Shoot Out Bonus round at the Columbus, Ohio PBR event. Coleman passed the $1 million mark this year moving into ninth in the all time money earning standings with $1,049,686.18. He's currently number ten in the race for the PBR Built Ford Tough Million Dollar Championship.
About PBR:
More than 104 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN and on a host of foreign networks across the globe. With over 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.
