our sports: BULL RIDING
Brennon Eldred — The Champ
BY MELISSA MOORMAN
When Parker County Today Magazine spoke with
Brennon Eldred, he had several weeks to let it sink in that
he is the Cheyenne Event Champion at the legendary
Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, which marks the end of
the 12-month Mahindra Road to Cheyenne tour.
With two victories during the regular season Championship Bull Riding (CBR) televised events, Brennon
Eldred finished with six top Final Four Shootout Round
appearances, more than any other bull rider. Eldred’s
wins came in Hobbs, Las Vegas and Cheyenne. He also
finished third at Conroe, Rio Rancho and Mulvane.
This summer was the first time Eldred made it to the
CBR finals.
“It was awesome,” Brennon said. “My first time to go to
the CBR finals – I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Riding every bull he was given, 20-year-old Eldred
road five for five for an average score of 448, five points
ahead of World Champion Cody Teel, to win the Cheyenne World Finals average and with that the title of
Cheyenne Event Champion. His nine 90-point rides are
the best in Championship Bull Riding this season, with his
best ride of the year saved for the finals in Cheyenne. He
rode perennial bucker Black Betty, assisting his 92.5 score
to cinch the World Finals title against Cody Teel, who also
went five for five, but with a final score of 443 points. Of
his nine 90s during this season, he said, “You ride what
they give you. I’ve been blessed with a good, healthy season – the best I’ve had so far.”
His win in Cheyenne in July netted Eldred a $30,000
check, which he used to purchase a ranch near his grandparents in Oklahoma. He was in Oklahoma during his
interview with PCT and was enjoying a few days off before
heading out to a rodeo in Pasadena, Texas, and then flying
to Oregon the next day. It’s a heady experience for the
cowboy who said of his season, “It’s pretty crazy. Going
from nothing to winning all of that. It’s life-changing for
sure.”
He wants to one day have a big place of his own near
where he grew up.
Although he’s been involved in rodeo for most of
his life, participating in his first rodeo at age 5, he also
wrestled, played basketball, football and baseball in high
OCTOBER 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
The Conroe Texas CBR Bull Mania
Powered by J5 Tractors
Conroe, TX The Lone Star Expo
October 3 @ 8 PM
48
Trey Benton: 2014 Conroe, TX Champion
The Ed Payne Motors “Bulls on the
Border” Bull Bash
Mercedes, TX Mercedes Rodeo Arena
October 17 @ 8 PM
Wyatt Rogers: 2014 Mercedes, TX Champion
Photo by Todd Brewer
Full schedule available at www.cbrbull.com
108 E. Church Street, Weatherford, TX 76086 • 817-626-2855 • cbrbull.com