Byrne Sixth at Music City Knockout

By: Kacie Albert  Monday, August 20, 2018 @ 4:01 PM

Tanner Byrne covered Lightning Before Thunder for 87 points at the Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires. Photo: Andy Watson/BullStockMedia.com.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – In front of a record-setting crowd at the fourth and final PBR Major of the season in Nashville, Tanner Byrne (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) finished sixth at the 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires inside Bridgestone Arena.

On Friday night, the 26-year-old advanced through the opening two rounds on buckoff time. He began the night lasting 6.95 seconds on Baby Boy (Deer Prairie Creek Bucking Bulls) to eliminate Matt Triplett (Columbia Falls, Montana) who made it just 3.86 seconds on Mr. Majestic (Cord McCoy/Bruce Wold).

Later that evening he took I Always Stand (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/H&C Bucking Bulls) to 4.13 seconds, knocking out Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil) who was 3.51 seconds on Wicked Stick (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/H&C Bucking Bulls).  

Byrne returned with a vengeance for Round 3 on Saturday, covering Lightning Before Thunder (Jenkins Cattle Co./Emerson Cattle) for 87 points, eliminating two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina) who was bested in 4.74 seconds by Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb).

His run through Bracket B came to an end when his 2.32-second effort aboard White Dynomite (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Wilks Ranch) wasn’t enough against Claudio Montanha Jr.’s (Pacaembu, Brazil) 4.02 seconds on Acting Crazy (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Staci Wilks/N Bar Ranch).

In the Second Chance Bracket, Byrne’s chances of becoming the first Canadian to win a Major came to a halt when Ramon de Lima’s (Sao Paulo, Brazil) 82.5-point trip on Fire & Smoke (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) eliminated him after he bucked off Talking Smack (Dakota Rodeo-Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Ken Barnhard) in 1.78 seconds.

For his efforts, Byrne collected a check for $4,300 and 155 world points. After beginning the event ranked No. 23 in the world, the Top-10 finish, Byrne’s third of the season on the elite tour, elevated him to No. 19. He now trails No.1 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) by 2022.5 points.

After advancing to the event’s championship round for the second consecutive year, Cody Teel (Kountze, texas) outlasted Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma) to win the Music City Knockout. The victory, which marked his first event win at a Major, earned Teel $116,300 and 905 world points. 

“Glad I worked my way to the end and stuck it out,” Teel, the 2012 PRCA Champion said moments after the win. “Getting on that many bulls, and of that caliber, can mentally and physically wear you down. You have to regroup between bulls and start over. It’s a challenge for sure.”

“I plan on buying a lot of diapers with this check,” the new father concluded.

Teel’s march to the win began after he advanced to Round 4 when his third round opponent Nathan Burtenshaw (Coonamble, New South Wales, Australia) was unable to continue due to an injury sustained when Soup In A Group (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Wilks Ranch) fell on him.

Capitalizing on the moment, Teel covered Big Black Cat (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Heal Pro Bulls) for 78.5 points, eliminating Valdiron de Oliveira (Piranhas, Brazil), to reach the Final Four, where he then knocked out 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Buna, Texas) on buckoff time.

In the final faceoff of the night, Teel reached 2.46 seconds on Bottoms Up (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.) besting Jesse’s 1.83-second effort on Livin’ Large (Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Staci Wilks/N Bar Ranch).  

The 26-year-old, who entered the Volunteer State event ranked No. 12 in the world rankings, cracked into the Top 10, and is now No. 6, 665.84 points behind standings leader Pacheco who failed to record a qualified ride and earn world points in Nashville.

For Jesse, the runner-up finish is the best to date of his two-year career on the elite tour. Going a combined 1-for-6 across the two days, including an event-best 88.5 points on Hedoo (Jane Clark/Gene Owen), he earned 500 word points and a check for $41,300. He soared from No. 35 to No. 17 in the world.

Koal Livingston (Burleson, Texas) was named the Ride Score Champion after going 2-for-6 to amass 173.75 points in the aggregate.

Also finishing seventh overall in the event, the 20-year-old earned $39,300 and 410 world points, catapulting him from No. 36 to No. 22 in the world standings.

After falling to Teel in the Final Four, Davis, the winner of the event’s Second Chance Bracket, finished third to net 340 world points and $11,800. Jumping one spot in the world rankings to No. 8, the Texan closed the gap on No.1 Pacheco, now 970 points off the lead.

Solidifying his No. 2 world ranking, Claudio Montanha Jr.’s (Pacaembu, Brazil) fourth place effort garnered him 280 points and allowed him to rise to within 21.67 points of the top spot in the world standings.

Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) earned his first YETI “Built for the Wild” Bull of the Event honor of the season. The bovine was marked 45.75 points for his 2.1-second buckoff of Livingston.

Canadians Dakota Buttar (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) and Lonnie West (Cadogan, Alberta) were also in the draw, however failed to earn world points.

Fans can relive all the action on RidePass.

The 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast next travels to Springfield, Missouri and JQH Arena on September 7-9 for the PFRIWestern.com Invitational, presented by Bass Pro Shops.

25th PBR: Unleash The Beast Music City Knockout, presented by Cooper Tires
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Round 5-Round 6-Round 7-Round 8-Round 9-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Cody Teel, 0-0-2.93-78.5-0-0-0-6.76-2.46-78.50-905 Points.
2. Colten Jesse, 0-0-88.5-7.54-0-0-0-3.19-1.83-88.50-500 Points.
3. Cooper Davis, 0-88.75-6.79-4.92-7.65-5.7-2.89-5.85-0-88.75-340 Points.
4. Claudio Montanha Jr., 0-84.5-4.9-4.02-0-0-0-3.1-0-84.50-280 Points.
5. Tanner Byrne, 0-0-87-2.32-1.78-0-0-0-0-87.00-155 Points.
6. Valdiron de Oliveira, 0-0-6.7-6.06-0-0-0-0-0-0.00-155 Points.
*7. Koal Livingston, 86.25-87.5-2.71-0-3.07-3.55-2.1-0-0-173.75-110 Points.
8. J.B. Mauney, 0-87.5-4.74-0-4.08-0-0-0-0-87.50-50 Points.
9. Luciano De Castro, 0-85.75-4.23-0-5.22-1.88-0-0-0-85.75-50 Points.
10. Guilherme Marchi, 85-0-4.64-0-2.21-0-0-0-0-85.00-50 Points.
11. Fabiano Vieira, 0-84.25-7.81-0-0-0-0-0-0-84.25-50 Points.
12. Nathan Burtenshaw, 0-0-4.22-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00-50 Points.
13. Ramon de Lima, 0-86-0-0-82.5-2.48-0-0-0-168.50
14. Derek Kolbaba, 86.5-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-86.50
15. Marcos Gloria, 85.5-0-0-0-2.28-0-0-0-0-85.50
16. Sean Willingham, 83.25-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-83.25
Kaique Pacheco, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Cody Nance, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Jess Lockwood, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Eduardo Aparecido, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dener Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Dakota Buttar, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Ryan Dirteater, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Joao Ricardo Vieira, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Silvano Alves, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Lonnie West, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Alex Marcilio, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Gage Gay, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Marco Antonio Eguchi, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Lachlan Richardson, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Alisson De Souza, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Edgar Durazo, 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.00

*Note: Koal Livingston earned an additional 300 world points as the Ride Score Champion.

2018 PBR World Standings
(Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5's, Points, Total Winnings)

1. Kaique Pacheco, 32, 6, 11, 2,950.00, $370,232.95
2. Claudio Montanha Jr., 34, 2, 11, 2,928.33, $237,300.22
3. Jose Vitor Leme, 27, 3, 10, 2,580.00, $223,260.66
4. Ramon de Lima, 34, 3, 6, 2,485.00, $280,067.41
5. Cody Nance, 31, 3, 7, 2,435.83, $210,009.33
6. Cody Teel, 30, 1, 10, 2,284.16, $239,467.11
7. Luciano De Castro, 26, 2, 9, 2,037.50, $182,711.84
8. Cooper Davis, 28, 1, 10, 1,980.00, $211,451.84
9. Jess Lockwood, 31, 4, 9, 1,912.50, $222,198.89
10. Eduardo Aparecido, 29, 1, 5, 1,684.99, $149,214.70
11. Fabiano Vieira, 31, 2, 6, 1,655.83, $132,161.00
12. Dener Barbosa, 24, 1, 7, 1,500.00, $117,375.33
13. Dakota Buttar, 32, 1, 5, 1,232.50, $84,610.45
14. Ryan Dirteater, 21, 2, 3, 1,092.50, $71,455.00
15. Keyshawn Whitehorse, 31, 2, 7, 1,050.83, $72,843.15
16. Derek Kolbaba, 33, 1, 7, 1,030.00, $178,605.86
17. Colten Jesse, 31, 4, 7, 1,027.50, $92,712.87
18. Valdiron de Oliveira, 31, 0, 5, 1,009.16, $49,447.32
19. Tanner Byrne, 32, 2, 4, 927.50, $70,756.60
20. Stetson Lawrence, 34, 1, 6, 917.50, $63,721.94
21. Guilherme Marchi, 19, 1, 2, 900.83, $70,408.98
22. Koal Livingston, 20, 1, 12, 897.50, $83,685.26
23. Brennon Eldred, 28, 0, 5, 887.50, $107,911.31
24. Joao Ricardo Vieira, 29, 2, 7, 787.50, $76,784.97
25. Silvano Alves, 28, 2, 5, 778.32, $74,464.05
26. Nathan Burtenshaw, 29, 2, 7, 767.50, $52,560.65
27. Lonnie West, 40, 4, 10, 752.50, $84,056.29
28. Alex Marcilio, 19, 0, 3, 715.00, $77,388.91
28. Sean Willingham, 30, 2, 9, 715.00, $56,459.34
30. Gage Gay, 8, 1, 1, 700.00, $110,425.50
30. Marcos Gloria, 18, 2, 5, 700.00, $114,298.43
32. Marco Antonio Eguchi, 31, 1, 2, 695.00, $47,007.51
32. Brock Radford, 37, 3, 14, 695.00, $80,055.06
34. Lachlan Richardson, 50, 3, 19, 615.00, $71,994.19
35. Emilio Resende, 11, 0, 2, 600.00, $36,227.86
36. Matt Triplett, 21, 0, 11, 572.50, $54,383.59
37. J.B. Mauney, 16, 1, 4, 491.66, $32,482.84
38. Cliff Richardson, 20, 3, 9, 475.00, $40,957.09
38. Alisson De Souza, 29, 2, 8, 475.00, $68,500.88
40. Cody Campbell, 40, 2, 3, 450.83, $44,167.20
41. Tye Chandler, 36, 2, 6, 397.50, $33,664.47
42. Aaron Kleier, 18, 3, 10, 390.00, $31,879.30
43. Fraser Babbington, 15, 2, 6, 387.50, $20,398.82
44. Cody Heffernan, 18, 2, 6, 370.00, $22,960.53
45. Rubens Barbosa, 37, 2, 10, 369.16, $53,187.81