Latest news with #TexasRattlers
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Ezekiel Mitchell delivers thrilling ride in Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin' debut
Ezekiel Mitchell heard such good things about the annual Cody Snyder Charity Bullbustin' spectacle that he had to check it out for himself. Article content Hailing from Rockland, Texas, Mitchell had never ventured north to Canada before he decided to attend the 2025 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) sanctioned event at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino on Tsuutʼina Nation. Article content 'All my Canadian buddies that come down (to compete at PBR events in the United States), they talk about how great this event is,' said the 28-year-old cowboy, who heard rave reviews from the likes of Lonnie West, Jared Parsonage, Ashton Sahli, Dakota Buttar and Nick Tetz. 'They say you get to get on a lot of bulls and have a good time and it's very laid back and they said they take care of the guys.' Article content Article content Mitchell took care of business on Tuesday's opening night of competition by posting a score of 85.5 points atop Dealing After Midnight. Article content Article content 'All the guys around here told me he was going to be a really good bull,' said Mitchell, who taught himself to ride bulls at a young age by watching YouTube videos and practising on a 55-gallon drum that was strung up in his yard. 'He's going to go either way. He decided to go right today. It wasn't the best decision for him, but good decision for me. I got to give him a few money chops and then it turned out to be 85.5.' Article content Mitchell's wild ride thrilled the packed crowd watching on from the stands constructed in the parking lot outside of the Grey Eagle Events Centre. Article content 'Everybody, they were giving me high fives and fist bumps,' said Mitchell, who has drawn inspiration from fellow Black rodeo competitors Lee Akin, Danell Tipton, Charlie Sampson, Chris Littlejohn, Bill Pickett, Fred Whitfield, Corey Solomon and John Douch. 'It's pretty cool the way they have this event set up. It's a great atmosphere. The crowd's right behind the bucking shoots, so you really get to feel the energy. You get to celebrate. You get to see how happy people are for you.' Article content Article content Unfortunately for Mitchell, he didn't fare as well on Wednesday as he was bucked off of Blue Nerve. Article content But the night before he finished in fourth spot behind Callum Miller (89.5 points on Surprise Twist), Andrew Alvidrez (89 on Write This Down) and Cody Coverchuk (86 on Carved in Stone). Article content Article content Mitchell wasn't too upset to see Miller win seeing as how they're teammates on the Texas Rattlers for PBR Team Series events. Article content 'Bull riding is just a big old family,' Mitchell said. 'If they draw better bulls than me and get to go ahead and take over that No. 1 spot, I'm just I'm happy for them. Hopefully, within this five days, I can have an event win from up here in Canada. That'd be really cool.' Article content Miller has been a regular Bullbustin' competitor ever since 2021 when he used to live in Innisfail, Alta. Article content 'They always put on a good deal for us and they've always got good bulls for us,' said Miller, 30, who's originally from Warwick, Queensland, Australia and now lives in Henrietta, Texas. 'The crowd's awesome and the sponsorship's great.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PBR Chevron Showdown: The Ariat Texas Rattlers mentorship with Odessa College
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Ariat Texas Rattlers return to Odessa for the second straight year of the Professional Bull Riding Chevron Showdown at Ector County Coliseum. This year features the Rattlers, who were the 2023 PBR Team Champions, the Nashville Stampede who won in 2022 and also competing is our very own Odessa College Rodeo Team. The Texas Rattlers have partnered with the Wranglers leading up to the Chevron Showdown to provide a mentorship, and OC head coach Tom Kelly says it's invaluable. 'For Chevron and Kent Quick to bring the Texas Rattlers to town and then for them to also include us in this event with this training, with working out with the Rattlers, with riding with them, practicing with them, you can't put a price tag on that.' With the Rattlers back in Odessa, they are looking to expand their brand nationwide, starting with the Lone Star State. 'Our hometown is Fort Worth, but we want to be known all over the country,' Rattlers head coach Cody Lambert said. 'Coming here to Odessa, I want fans, I want to be looked at, I want the Rattlers to be looked at as Texas' team.' In the 2024 PBR Chevron Showdown, Odessa College's Hayden Welsh won the event, and the team gives a lot of credit to the Rattlers team. 'It just started our year off well, and we carried the momentum through. In my opinion, we owe a big thank you to the Rattlers for helping us do that,' Kelly said. Now, the 2025 PBR Chevron Showdown expectations are at an all-time high. 'We got some of the best bulls in the business, the best bull riders in the business. It will come down to who wants to win.' The event is set for 7:00 p.m. at Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, and tickets can be found online at or the box office for $25. Following the event, country music legend Dwight Yoakam will be performing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
