February 12, 2010

Murphy tops the field at second stop of winter showcase tour.

It’s been only three months since Bandy Murphy suffered a broken cheekbone and eye socket from a bull’s horn in Waco, Texas. But, true to his all-business form, it has not changed his focus while competing. Murphy dominated the second stop of the World’s Toughest Rodeo winter showcase tour on February 6 in Raleigh, NC. Murphy led the field with a three-head total of 230 points. Newcomer to the Toughest Cowboy competition, Cimmaron Gerke, took second place with 193 points.

Tournament 3 – Event Recap

Bareback Bronc Round
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualifier Cimmaron Gerke topped the bareback round with a textbook, controlled 81-point ride. Not to be out done, Bandy Murphy gets down to business and bucks out 80 points, as does 2009 Toughest Cowboy competitor Lance Kelly. Raleigh is the first appearance for Kelly during the showcase tour, and it didn’t take long for him to knock the rust off.

Strong rides were also handed in by Toughest Cowboy veterans Trey Broussard (76 Points), Dusty Elkinton (73 points) and Whit Ashe (72 points). Arizona cowboy J.T. Cox also delivered a dandy ride and was awarded 78 points for his effort.

Missing form the top of the leader board was Erik Wolford, who lost his grip and ended his ride with only 53 points. As did Charlie Baker, who is riding with a broken collarbone suffered in Tournament 2 on January 30. Barker clearly is having trouble riding with the injury and can only manage 59 points.

Saddle Bronc Round
The saddle bronc horses continue to dole out punishment to the competitors. Charlie Baker wrecks 3 seconds into his ride and comes up in obvious pain. Toughest Cowboy Rookie, Alan Frierson, ends up with the worst wreck of the night as his horse flips over backwards landing on top of him. Frierson elects to take a re-ride and gets absolutely smeared and comes up well short of the 8-seond mark.

Trey Broussard produces a fair ride and captures 66 points. Erik Wolford and Bandy Murphy are the only other two competitors in the field who can manage 8-second rides. Wolford puts on another wild display and grabs 79 points to lead the bronc riding. Murphy secures 70 points for his effort and continues his control of the overall lead.

Bull Riding Round
Not a lot of gray area in the bull riding either. Only three riders manage full rides and the rest of the competitors get punished for their efforts. Charlie Barker is among the dejected cowboys, and it appears this will be the last ride of the tour for Barker due to his broken collarbone.

Toughest Cowboy veteran Dusty Elkinton hands in his first full ride of the year and notches 74 points. Cimmaron Gerke continues to prove he’s a solid three-event cowboy and hands in the high-point ride of the round with an 82. Gerke again has victory in his grasp, but Bandy Murphy has yet to ride.

As mentioned at the beginning of this recap, Bandy Murphy had the left side of his face shattered by a bull in October of 2009. This injury forced Murphy to don a helmet while riding bulls; for many bull riders this takes some getting used to. It appears that Murphy has acclimated to the helmet just fine and he does what he has done so many times in the past—delivers when he needs to. Murphy turns in an 80-point effort and secures the tournament victory.

Tournament 3 Summary – Raleigh, NC

Tournament  Winner: Bandy Murphy, 230 points.

Overall Results: 1. Bandy Murphy, 230 points; 2. Cimmaron Gerke, 193 points; 3. Trey Boussard, 174 points; 4. Lance Kelly, 168 points; 5. Dusty Elkinton, Erik Wolford (Tie), 155 points; 7. J.T. Cox, 153 points; 8. Whit Ashe, 143 points; 9. Corey Gray, 112 points; 10. Charlie Barker, 106 points; 11. Clint Hopping, 75 points; 12. Alan Frierson, 62 points