HURON — Six South Dakota bull riders attempting to get a jump start on the CBR’s Road to Cheyenne premier bull riding tour will be competing in Huron on Wednesday and Thursday nights against World Champions and top ranked bull riders at the annual Red Wilks Construction Bull Bash in front of the Grandstands at the South Dakota State Fair.
South Dakota bull riders Corey Maier, Timberlake, South Dakota, Kritter Lamb, the 2014 CBR Horizon Series Champion, Trevor Easton, Dylan Madsen, Dylan Rice — all from Wessington Springs and and Kyle Blume of Redfield will compete with the elite of the CBR and you can bet the local fans will be cheering to help them hang on.
The Red Wilk Construction CBR Bull Bash at the South Dakota State Fair will be the first stop on the 2017-18 Road to Cheyenne tour.
The CBR’s season opener is the opening act of the Grandstands and begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday with the second performance on Thursday night.
In addition to the bull riding action, Red Wilk will honor veterans at the American Hero Award ceremony, during an extraordinary intermission rite.
CBR will bring 40 of the best bull riders in the country and pit them against the top bulls on tour to kick off the 2017-2018 Road to Cheyenne nationwide televised tour.
This year is the 12th time CBR has put on the opening show that kicks off the 132 year old State Fair tradition in South Dakota, and also the 12th consecutive year CBR selected the South Dakota State Fair as its first event for the new season.
Night one includes five native South Dakota Bull Riders at the CBR Horizon Series event, which will include a long round and a bounty bull worth $10,000 to the bull rider —  if he can hang on for eight seconds.

The Bounty Bull, 243 Breaking Bad, is unridden in CBR competition.
If you draw 243 Breaking Bad, it probably doesn’t matter if you are left handed, right handed, a rookie or a veteran – it is highly unlikely you will ride him and according to breeder Lyndal Hurst, he is unpredictable.
“He will have one of three trips – either one with two big jumps out of the chute — but he can go to the right or to the left — or he can turn back hard and fast upon leaving the chute,” Hurst said.
The best advice from the bull riders who have attempted 243 Breaking Bad is to stay small and stay as close to him as possible until you make the corner — where he usually levels out — with the emphasis on the word usually.
Tuff Hedeman thought enough of this bull to nominate him for the 2017 CBR Bull of the Year.
Veteran CBR rider Cody Rostockyj has seen this bull go several times and says left handers might have a better chance of riding him, but the bull remains unridden after 25 recorded professional outs in three different associations.
Thursday night’s lineup will follow the CBR’s three round tournament style format which is popular with fans, as it allows them to see their favorite riders challenge as many as three bulls in one night. As the bull riders progress, each earning money for their qualified rides, the final four man Shoot Out round determines the winner and the bulk of the $30,000 prize money.
Four time World Champion Bull Rider Hall of Famer Tuff Hedeman will host the event, which will feature several World Champion bull riders including Cheyenne World Finals Champion and Navajo Nation bull riding champion Cody Jesus from Sawmill, Ariz., against the field of the top 24 ranked riders. Their competition will be the top bulls on the CBR tour including several World Champion bovine athletes.
CBR has become known for its action-packed performances that keep fans on the edge of their seats. From having great bulls matched up with super star riders, to upbeat music and enthusiastic fans, the CBR Bull Bash will be second to none.
The competition is also part of the CBR Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge. Bull owners will bring three bulls that are featured during the first two rounds of competition. Those bulls receive points for their performance in the arena. Additionally, the time the bull rider stays on is added to the bull’s score. At the end of the night, the owner with the three highest-scoring bulls will receive $20,000 with a total of $45,000 paid to the bulls before the end of the night.
Immediately following the bull riding, fans will get a chance to meet and get autographs from the bull riders.

Photo:

CBR Koby  Radley attempts LH “Breaking Bad,” the bounty bull for Red WilkConstruction’s Bull Bash, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Grandstand.

Photo courtesy Championship Bull Riding