By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Roscoe Jarboe is the man to beat for this year’s George Paul Memorial XTREME Bull Riding championship buckle.
The New Plymouth, Idaho cowboy scored 174 points on two bulls Friday night to grab a slim lead over Trey Holston on the first night of the 46th annual George Paul.
The five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier will now have to wait as 40 more cowboys will ride Saturday night at the Val Verde County Fairgounds, each of them looking to take the top spot from Jarboe.
Holston was the first cowboy to post a qualified ride when he scored 86 on Sutton Rodeos’ Rocky as the fourth man to attempt a ride Friday night. He would be one of three men to cover their first bull as Jarboe and Hudson Bolton of Milan, Tenn., also scored 86 points to move into the night’s short go round.
Bolton scored his 86 on Rafter G Rodeo’s The Dark Knight while Jarboe scored 86 atop Rafter G Rodeo’s No Doubt.
The trio would ride again in the short go joined by a random draw of seven other bull riders including Wyatt Gleeson, Dalton Ray Walling, Beau Gardner, Elijah Mora, Tyler Bingham, Lathan Stringer and Cooper James.
Of that group, only James made good on his second chance, scoring the second-highest ride of the night as he conquered Lancaster & Cude’s High Class for 87.5 points and putting him in the lead. He also set a milestone by becoming the first cowboy to successfully ride High Class during an event.
James’ lead lasted until the next rider – Holston – hit 85.5 points on Sutton Rodeos’ Mr. Demon and grabbed the lead with 171.5 points on two bulls.
Bolton’s shot at the lead disappeared when he was bucked off by Sutton Rodeos’ Schott in the Dark. That left just Jarboe to ride.
Jarboe controlled Rafter G Rodeo’s Goin Brandon from the outset, giving the black bull all he had as the crowd cheered louder and louder with each passing second. When he leapt from the back of the bull at the end of the ride, he threw both his arms into the air and celebrated. As the score flashed, “88 points,” Jarboe was embraced by bull fighters and fellow riders.
This year’s George Paul Memorial XTREME Bull Riding will continue Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds. It can also be seen live on The Cowboy Channel, listed as channel 468 on Spectrum.
2024 46TH ANNUAL GEORGE PAUL MEMORIAL XTREME BULL RIDING DAY 1 LEADERS
- Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho 174 points on two bulls
- Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kansas 171.5 points on two bulls
- Cooper James, Erda, Utah 87.5 points on one bull
- Hudson Bolton, Milan, Tenn. 86 points on one bull
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
