In its continued efforts to make the sport of professional bull riding safer for cattle and humans alike, the PBR’s Rules and Regulations Committee approved two standard spur rowels that riders will be required to wear when competing at any PBR sanctioned event, including the Built Ford Tough Series.
The two rowels riders can choose from include the Brazilian style used during the past PBR World Cup event and a rowel manufactured by Josh Koschel.
“We’ve always had a rule in there against sharp rowels,” said Cody Lambert, a member of the committee. “It’s just time to standardize the equipment.”
This past season there were several incidents where riders wound up with their rope getting caught between the spur shank and the rowels while getting bucked off. As a result, they were dragged around the arena.
Most recently, Ryan Dirteater was injured in Uncasville, Conn., at the final BFTS event of 2009. He is expected to miss the entire 2010 season after he dislocated his left knee. While it’s not possible to guarantee that that type of wreck won’t happen in the future, the two approved rowels should vastly cut down on that particular type of hang up.
“It’s for the safety of the riders and the bulls,” Lambert added, “and to make sure no rider has an unfair advantage over the other because of his equipment.”
Spurs are a secondary piece of equipment used by riders to stay on, but making the whistle is more dependent on a fundamentally sound riding style.
According to Jay Daugherty, senior vice president of competition, the new regulation will be strictly enforced at the BFTS events beginning in Baltimore. However, he estimates that the transition could take up to a month for riders at the lower level—largely because Koschel and his father individually manufacture the rowels. They are now looking into mass producing the item in effort to meet the expected demand.
Daugherty also said that he’s working with three-time World Champion Adriano Moraes to obtain a mass quantity of the Brazilian style.
“The rowels are something I want to do,” said Koschel.
Until now, he’s started with piece of flat steel and uses a computerized program at his father’s machine shop to cut the rowel.
Several riders, including Mike White and Zack Brown, have already been using Koschel’s rowels, and others had previously inquired about using them.
NEWS and NOTES
Mexico invades the land down under: Last week, Rocky McDonald traveled to Australia where he finished first in the overall standings for PBR Australia. However, because McDonald is of Mexican descent, the title of Australian Champion went to Oz native David Kennedy, who finished second.
PBR fan favorite Brendon Clark was home in Australia, and while he placed second at two smaller Aussie events, he didn’t fare as well at the Australian Finals. He has since returned stateside and is expected to compete at the lower-level in effort to qualify for the BFTS as an alternate following the first cut after the fifth event in Anaheim, Calif.
North of the border: PBR Canada held its Finals this past weekend. Aaron Roy was attempting to become the first Canadian to win the title in back-to-back years, but he finished second in the event to Guilherme Marchi and subsequently second in the overall standings to Beau Hill.
Hill won the Canadian title in spite of not competing due to an injury incurred at the PBR World Finals. Marchi covered all three bulls and has now ridden nine in a row.
— by Keith Ryan Cartwright
