Weslaco Bull Rider Attempts National Comeback in Mercedes

HARLINGEN, Texas - Oct. 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Local bull rider Juan Alonzo, Weslaco, Texas returns to the arena dirt to battle four World Champions at Championship Bull Riding’s annual “Bulls on the Border” Bull Bash on October 17 at the Mercedes Livestock Show Arena.  Alonzo, a United States Army veteran, is one of the top ranked bull riders on the CBR’s professional tour who suffered a shoulder injury in early September and hopes to make an unprecedented comeback after only three weeks in front of a packed hometown crowd on Saturday night.

The fifth stop of the 2015-16 televised Mahindra Road to Cheyenne tour makes it way to Mercedes for the last stop in 2015 until the tour resumes in January.  CBR will offer the diehard bull riding fans of South Texas the chance to see four World Champions bull riders, including 2015 CBR World Champion Cody Teel and the No. 1 ranked Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull rider Sage Kimzey, take on the industry’s top bucking bulls in a three round tournament style event combined with a multi artist concert featuring four of Texas’ leading entertainers.

Chris Marshall’s band will kick off the evening’s activities with a tailgate party, comedian and television host Chad Prather will entertain during the intermission, and following the bull riding, fans will enjoy the music of Costello and Madelyn Victoria.

“It is a rare opportunity for the local fans to see the two No. 1 ranked bull riders in the world and enjoy great entertainment before, during and after the bull riding,” said Chief Executive Officer and Bulls On the Border Bash producer, Benny Cude. In addition to the feature performance on Saturday night, fans will three opportunities to meet the professional cowboy athletes at local retailers. (Schedule below)

24 elite bull riders will travel to Mercedes, Texas in an attempt to unseat CBR World Champion and No.1 ranked bull rider Cody Teel of Kountze, Texas. Sage Steele Kimzey, the PRCA, 2014 World Champion and its current leader heading into the National Finals Rodeo in December, will be gunning for Teel and the rest of the field. But before both the $30,000 is awarded they will all have to get past local super star Juan Alonzo, CBR’s current No. 1, Mahindra Young Gun Cody Rostockyj, and the comeback kid, Trey Benton of Rock Island, Texas.

Juan Alonzo from Weslaco, Texas, a veteran of the U.S Army, who is pursuing his dreams of being a professional bull rider after serving in the Middle East, burst onto the CBR bull riding scene as a rookie last season and crawled his way to the top 10 where he parked for the season. He was impressive at the CBR World Finals in July, posting the highest score to win round one.  Alonzo went on to ride three of four of his draws at his first CBR World Finals appearance to finish fifth in the average.  Benton, who is returning from knee injury and rehabilitation efforts, has been on a mission to return to the CBR arena since tearing his MCL in Calgary in July.

The Ed Payne Motors “Bulls on the Border” Bull Bash will be held at 8 PM at the Mercedes Livestock Show Arena located at 1000 North Texas Avenue. Saturday night’s lineup kicks off with the Chris Marshall tailgate party on the main stage followed by the bull riding and the concert. Doors open for the tailgate party at 6:00. The bull riding action gets underway at 8 p.m. with the top 24 bull riders in the world doing their best to stay on for eight seconds in round one so they can advance to the semifinals. The 12 top scores get to ride in the semifinals with the best four advancing to a Shoot Out round where the bulk of the $30,000 in prize money is paid.

SCHEDULE

Friday, October 16

Autograph Sessions

5-7 pm  Boot Jack, 1428 E Jackson, McAllen

9 pm CBR Kick Off party - Mustang Lounge, 3610 East Expressway, Weslaco

Saturday, October 17

         Autograph Session

10-12 am Rivera’s Machinery 800 W Expressway 83, Donna

12 – 2 pm Ed Payne Dodge, 2101 E Expy 83, Weslaco

Doors Open -  Ed Payne Bulls on the Border Bull Bash

6 pm Tailgate Party with Chris Marshall on the main stage, Mercedes Livestock Arena

         8 pm Bulls on the Border Bash

Costello and Madelyn Victoria Concert following Bull Riding

LOCATION:  Mercedes Livestock Show Arena, 1000 N Texas Ave, Mercedes, TX 78570

TICKETS ON SALE an:    The Boot Jack www.dirtroadtickets.com

         Reserved - $ 35.00 Presale $40.00 at the gate

         General Admission - $ 20.00 Presale $25.00 at the gate

Tuff Hedeman, Cody Teel, and Juan Alonzo, are available for media interviews upon request.  Contact   Leigh Ann Schroeder 940.902.1112 or leighann@theshortround.com

Websites:  cbrbull.com; dirtroadtickets.com