Two World Champions join the #1 Bull Rider in the World in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas - March 31, 2015 - PRLog -- With over 30 years of bull riding history on his resume, Tuff Hedeman is one of the most recognizable cowboys in the history of rodeo. In recent years he has made a name for himself in the production of great bull riding events and on April 11th he is bringing the annual Tuff Hedeman Championship Challenge Bull Riding presented by South Point Hotel Casino, back to the Fort Worth Stockyards Cowtown Coliseum.

Hedeman’s main event will be showcasing the CBR and PRCA World Champion and number one bull rider in the World, Sage Steele Kimzey of Strong City, Oklahoma, pitted against the #1 ranked bull rider in CBR, 2012 PRCA World Champion Cody Teel, from Kountze, Texas. Joining Kimzey and Teel in the arena will be Cole Echols, the 2013 CBR World Champion, and Dallas native Aaron Pass, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier and also at the top of the national pro bull riding charts. These nationally acclaimed cowboy athletes will be joined by on fire rookie bull riders and the best bull talent in the game.  Kimzey, who won $85,000 in the month of March riding bulls will challenge Teel who has two CBR event wins already in 2015. On the line; valuable points needed to qualify for the CBR World Finals and a $30,000 purse.

“Organizing the Fort Worth bull riding is like coming home”, said the four time World Champion bull rider who began the sport of bull riding with the first stand-alone bull riding in 1991 in the historic Cowtown Coliseum.

“I always look forward to this event, the fans, the sponsors and the whole Fort Worth community gets behind it and it’s a great way to give back to the people of Texas who have supported me during my career”, said Hedeman, the Ambassador of Championship Bull Riding, Chute Boss and producer of this annual cowboy extravaganza. This year’s event is the twelfth stop on the Mahindra Championship Bull Riding’s (CBR) Road to Cheyenne Tour which pits the industry’s elite riders against the best bulls in a three round tournament style action. The Bull riding will be held at the Stockyards Coliseum. Doors open at 6:30 and action gets underway at 8:00 p.m. The Evan Williams Bullfighters will be signing autographs at 7:00 in the corridor of the coliseum. In addition, the Cripple Creek Jr. Bull Riding Challenge returns, with young riders from North Texas Jr. Rodeo Associations competing for $1000 and prizes, with the winner taking home the grand prize, a Tuff Hedeman Championship Belt Buckle.

There are no guarantees in bull riding; the only way for cowboys to earn a paycheck is to ride better than the rest of the 24-man field.  The field of competition which starts with 24 riders, then 12 and finally 4 in the Shoot Out where they will battle for the lion’s share of $30,000 in prize money. The night’s excitement will culminate as the final four bull riders will get a third opportunity to ride in a winner take all ending. The format appeals to new spectators and established fans alike because riders can challenge as many as three bulls in one performance.

In addition to lucrative prize money, bull riders accumulate points which qualify them for the World Finals, part of the legendary Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration held Wyoming next July. At the end of the World Finals, the contestant who has the most points will be crowned the world champion and receive a $100,000 bonus. The national tour includes stops from Jackson, Tenn., to Las Vegas, Nev., east to west and from Huron, S.D., to Del Rio, Texas, north to south.

The Fort Worth event will also feature the “other side of the ride”, CBR’s Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge. Bull owners from all around the country will bring three bulls that are featured during the first two rounds of competition. The bulls are competing for points based on their performance in the arena. Additionally, the time the bull rider stays on is added to the bull’s score. At the end of the night, the owner with the three highest-scoring bulls will receive $20,000 with a total purse of $45,000 to the stock contractors who own these prize bovine athletes.

CBR has become known for their action-packed performances that keep fans on the edge of their seats. That is largely due to the influence of four-time world champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman who coordinates every element and attends to the smallest details. From having great bulls matched up with super star riders, to upbeat music and enthusiastic fans there is something for everyone at the s Tuff Hedeman Championship Challenge Bull Riding.

Pre-event activities begin on Saturday, April 4th, from 2 pm to 4 pm Tuff Hedeman will be at Boot Barn in Burleson, 1131 N Burleson Blvd, Burleson, Texas 76028.  Friday, April 10^th is a meet and greet at the Stockyard Saloon in the historical stockyards from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Advance tickets are available at the Stockyards Coliseum box office, 121 E. Exchange Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76164 and ticketmaster.com. Prices start at $35 with a variety of options available. WEBSITE:  ticketmaster.com, stockyardsrodeo.com, or cbrbull.com