RANGELY I Colten Fritzlan, 11, left for Ogden, Utah, with dreams and determination to be a world champion. The Chris Shivers Miniature Bullriding World Finals entailed two long rounds with the top 15 advancing to the short round, a total of 40 boys in the junior age group representing 17 different states.
Fritzlan, a Rifle, Colo., sixth-grader whose grandparents (the Kenneys) live in Rangely, drew a bull named Armadillo for the first round and rode him to a 73.5 point score which tied Fritzlan for third place. Next he drew Spanky, a Casperson bucking bull. Fritzlan covered him to a 71.5 point ride to again tie for third place. Leading the average score with 144 points on two head and being one of three to cover two bulls set Fritzlan up for his championship ride.
Fritzlan drew Cranky, another Casperson bull, which was the bucking bull of the finals. Fritzlan knew he had to cover him. Briggs Madsen, last year’s world champion, had already turned in a 77 point ride which moved him to the lead. With Chris Shivers, PBR world champion, pulling Fritzlan’s bull rope and skill with determination, the chute flew open. Fritzlan covered Cranky to have the highest point ride of the finals in the junior division — 81 points — and earn the 2011 world championship title as the only competitor to cover all three head.
Fritzlan brings back to Rifle a new custom trophy saddle, a world champion buckle, a round winner buckle and a little more than $3,300 in prize money, along with the 2011 Chris Shivers Miniature Bullriding Championship title.
Fritzlan heads to Montana the first weekend in November for the Northwestern Miniature Bullriding Finals in Helena, Mont. He would like to thank Roustabout Field Services, Monument Well, Kelby Kenney and all the others who help him go down the rodeo road.
