Biever Wins Hometown Besplug Invitational
“A dream come true.”
That’s the way bull rider Logan Biever described the moment to an appreciative sold-out hometown crowd moments after clinching the win at the 5th annual Chad Besplug Invitational. Biever had just turned in an impressive 88 point ride on Outlaw Buckers’ Home Grown to finish in a 2/3 split in the short-go and first overall with 171 points on two rides for a $3457 payday. It was the biggest win of the youthful Biever’s career to date.
“You can’t wish for anything better,” the 20 year old (he’ll turn 21 in March) acknowledged. “I knew the crowd was pretty much on my side and I was thinking this is one place you don’t want to fall off.”
And he didn’t. In fact, far from it as the likeable southern Alberta talent dominated two excellent bulls—another Outlaw Buckers product, Village Idiot for 83 points and second place in the long round before his roof-raising effort on Home Grown, the black white-face with CFR credentials for the winning ride.
Biever hadn’t seen Home Grown prior to their Saturday night encounter but that didn’t appear to be any kind of hindrance for the young 2018 PBR Finals qualifier.
“The bull came from Jay Nelson and I talked to Jay about him a couple of weeks ago; he said Home Grown was really good. I tried not to set any traps or plan something that probably wasn’t going to work. I just wanted to react to what he did and ride jump for jump and I guess it worked out.”
Biever will continue to ply his trade at both CPRA and PBR events and hope his hot hand will continue for a while yet. He’s ridden nine of his last ten bulls and the confidence that comes with that kind of success is clearly building.
“It’s never been better than it is right now,” Biever acknowledged. “It takes a long time to get that confidence to where you want it to be but I’ve been riding pretty good the last while. I just want to keep it going.”
Defending Claresholm Bull Riding champion, Garrett Green, topped the short round with an 89 on Vold Rodeo’s Desperado to finish second overall, just a point behind Biever in the (two head) aggregate.
For complete (unofficial) Chad Besplug Invitational Bull Riding results, go to rodeocanada.com
Next up on the CPRA schedule is the Medicine Hat Broncs and Honky Tonks Spring Indoor Rodeo April 5-7.
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Further south, another Canadian was racking up a big-time win as Inglis, Manitoba’s Orin Larsen, spurred out a spectacular 92.5 point score on Frontier Rodeo’s Full Baggage in the championship bareback riding final at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo to pocket over $29,500. 2019 marked the second time Larsen had won the iconic Texas event; the CFR-NFR qualifier was also the 2016 San Antonio champion.
Several other Rodeo Canada connections were among the well-paid money winners at the home of the Alamo, including a trio of Albertans – Larsen’s fellow bareback colleague, Conner Hamilton ($12,250); bronc rider, Zeke Thurston ($18,250) and steer wrestler, Tanner Milan ($16,500). Reigning Canadian champion bareback rider Richmond Champion from The Woodlands, Texas finished up just a half point behind Larsen for a second place haul of over $22,000. Another Canadian titleist – three time and reigning tie-down champion – Shane Hanchey of Sulphur, Louisiana, captured his first San Antonio win and picked up $23,500 along the way while CFR qualifier and World Champion bronc rider, Wade Sundell captured the San Antonio title and earned $26,500 for his Iowa bank account.
A number of Canadian bucking horses lit it up at San Antonio as well. Go-rounds were won on Calgary Stampede buckers Soap Bubbles (2), Zulu Warrior (2), Youngstown Rocket, Welcome Delivery, Y U R Frisky, Xavier Joan and Xecutive News along with C5 Rodeo’s Oney and Makeup Face. Richmond Champion’s second place 92 point ride in the bareback riding finale was aboard World and Canadian champion, Virgil.
For complete San Antonio results, go to www.prorodeo.com
