Bert still in hunt for bull riding title

By BEE STAFF REPORTS AND NEWS SERVICES

last updated: December 12, 2007 03:11:43 AM

More than half-way through his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Modesto bull rider Ted Bert finds himself still in the running for a world championship.

Bert successfully reached the eight-second whistle during the first, second and fifth nights and won $15,865.38. Through Monday night, he was sixth in the all-around standings for the world title, about $60,000 behind leader B.J. Schumacher. Four rounds are left.

Bert furthered his cause on Tuesday night when he placed first with an 87 aboard Four Star Rodeo's Shake Down -- which moved Bert within five points of average leader Wesley Silcox of Payson, Utah, at 339.5 to 334.5.

"I'm not sore or hurt or anything. I wasn't happy about getting bucked off," Bert said. "Bo's Excuse (a sibling of the infamous Bodacious, in Round 3) just jerked the rope out of my hand. Firebird (Round 4) was real bad in the chute and I just got behind him."

Bert vowed he never would go to the NFR until he qualified.

"It's the real deal. It's all it's cut out to be, that's for sure," he said. "They run a pretty good rodeo. I still have a chance at this thing, so I'll keep trying."

In other news Tuesday night, Houston Hutto took first in tie-down roping during the sixth round, challenging Trevor Brazile's quest for a triple crown.

Hutto, of Del Rio, Texas, and Josh Peek of Pueblo, Colo., tied for first with times of 7.4 seconds. With the victory, Hutto moved into the top spot in the world standings with $147,830.

Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, who was the event's leader, placed sixth and is in second with $146,289. He has earned $13,750 at the NFR compared to Hutto with $37,415.

Brazile, however, did increase his first-place, record-setting total in all-around to $344,906 for 2007 and is $159,104 ahead of runner-up Peek with four rounds left. Brazile has already won steer roping and is trying to complete the triple crown by gaining tie-down roping and team roping titles.

In team roping, Colter Todd of Marana, Ariz., and Cesar de la Cruz of Tucson, Ariz., who placed second during both of the two previous rounds, won this one with a time of 4.4.

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