RENO, Nev. – The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT) returned to Reno, Nevada, for a sold-out weekend where Pokey Houghton (St. George, Utah) was unstoppable, securing his first-ever PWVT event win, as one of only two men to go 2-for-3.

As the two nights in Reno began on Friday, the 19-year-old was paired with Peanut for a resounding 85.5 points to land in a tie for the No. 3 position on the event leaderboard. 

Early on Saturday he was paired with Tropic Thunder to turn in an impressive, round-winning 85.5-point ride and move into the championship round as the No. 1 man. 

As the talented animal athletes of the PBR showcased their supreme agility throughout the final round in Nevada, the Utah cowboy hoped to keep the momentum going when matched up with Train Station. Despite this pairing going differently than he had planned, his efforts throughout the weekend were still enough to walk away as the event champion.  

For his 2-for-3 weekend and first-place finish, Houghton netted 124.5 Velocity Global points and sits at No. 36 in the Velocity Standings. 

Velocity Global points contribute to the Velocity Global Standings and determine which new riders are added to the elite Unleash The Beast throughout the season. The Top 3 Velocity Global riders who have not already qualified are also invited to the PBR World Finals in May.

After his event win in Everett, Washington, just one week ago, Aaron Williams (Pismo Beach, California) continued his hot streak, finishing in second place at the Reno Events Center.

The 28-year-old cowboy had a less-than-ideal Friday night, when he scored 68.5 points aboard Bro Code. 

Knowing he had to hit the gas on Saturday, Williams was paired with Apple Juicing as the night began. Despite his best efforts, the muscular bovine won this matchup, throwing him to the dirt after 4.07 seconds. 

He then set sights on the championship round where, to the Nevada crowd’s delight, July was no match for Williams’ athleticism. Being the only man to make the 8 in the final round, with a solid 87.5 points, Williams concluded his 2-for-3 weekend. 

Williams collected 78 Velocity Global points for his efforts and remains at No. 1 in the Velocity standings.  

Friday night’s leading man, Qynn Andersen (Koumala, Queensland, Australia), finished the weekend in third place. 

With a determined look, 21-year-old Andersen conquered his Round 1 matchup with Scrapper, turning in an 87.5-point monumental ride to put himself in the No. 1 spot for the opening night in Reno. 

Hoping to keep the momentum flowing, the young athlete launched from the chutes in Saturday’s second round aboard McClure 07. To the sold-out crowd’s dismay, the Australian cowboy fell short, hitting the dirt after 4.54 seconds. 

Despite being launched by Smoke Down in the championship round after 4.47 seconds, Andersen earned 64 Velocity Global points for his third-place finish. 

Williams’ fellow California man, Andy Guzman (Oakdale, California), ended up in fourth place in Reno on Saturday night. 

In the opening round Friday night, Guzman landed in the No. 2 spot on the leaderboard after his exciting ride aboard Jericho, scoring 86.5 points.

Going into Round 2 on Saturday night, the 22-year-old set his sights on Gator Drool. Unfortunately, the talented animal athlete bucked Guzman off after a mere 2.13 seconds.  

Despite his championship round matchup against Ain’t No Joke ending abruptly at 1.41 seconds, Guzman earned 39 Velocity Global points and now sits at No. 27 in the Velocity standings. 
 
Rounding out the Top 5 at the Reno Events Center was Jaxton Mortensen (Chino Valley, Arizona).

In Round 1, he launched from the chutes making quick work of Cherry Bomb. As excited Silver State fans cheered, he made it to the buzzer, scoring 85.5 points and tying for third place with Houghton. 

From there, despite a valiant effort to stay aboard his Saturday night opponents, he couldn’t convert. 

Mortensen’s first round score helped the 20-year-old leave Reno with 33.5 Velocity Global points and moved him to No. 15. In the Velocity Standings. 

The talented bull riders of the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour will next head to Norfolk, Virginia, for the GOVX PBR Norfolk at Chartway Arena Feb. 28-Mar. 1. In a double-up weekend, the PWVT will also be in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the Cooper Tires PBR Bridgeport at Total Mortgage Arena Feb. 28-Mar. 1. 

PBR Reno – Reno Events Center
Reno, Nevada
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Event Aggregate-Event Points) 
1. Pokey Houghton, 85.5-85.5-0-171.00-124.5 Points.
2. Aaron Williams, 68.5-0-87.5-156.00-78 Points.
3. Qynn Andersen, 87.5-0-0-87.50-64 Points.
4. Andy Guzman, 86.5-0-0-86.50-39 Points.
5. Jaxton Mortensen, 85.5-0-0-85.50-33.5 Points.
6. Brady Turgeon, 85-0-0-85.00-27 Points.
7. Zane Cook, 84-0-0-84.00-20 Points.
8. Francisco Morales, 82.5-0-0-82.50-18 Points.
9. JaCauy Hale, 82-0-0-82.00-16 Points.
10. Dustin Herman, 81-0-0-81.00-13 Points.
11. Shane Scott, 73-0-0-73.00-3 Points.
12. Ramon de Lima, 69.5-0-0-69.50-1 Points.
Dalton Rudman, 0-0-0-0.00
Guthrie Long, 0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Rogers, 0-0-0-0.00
Eric Novoa, 0-0-0-0.00
Caden Bunch, 0-0-0-0.00
Dawson Gleaves, 0-0-0-0.00
Callum Miller, 0-0-0-0.00
Briggs Madsen, 0-0-0-0.00
Conner Halverson, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Necochea, 0-0-0-0.00
Kyle Eaton, 0-0-0-0.00
Billy Quillan, 0-0-0-0.00
Kase Hitt, 0-0-0-0.00
Eli Vastbinder, 0-0-0-0.00
Wyatt Nez, 0-0-0-0.00
Hayden Harris, 0-0-0-0.00
Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00
Dalton Shepard, 0-0-0-0.00
Luke Parkinson, 0-0-0-0.00
Thomas Hudson, 0-0-0-0.00
Hagen Meeks, 0-0-0-0.00
Jose Natanael Marcodes da Silva, 0-0-0-0.00
Garrett Crist, 0-0-0-0.00

Photo courtesy of Andre Silva/Bull Stock Media