Leanna Lehman
Fallon rang in the New Year at Rafter 3C Events Complex in Fallon in full western style. With a sold-out crowd packing the house and standing room only for latecomers, 32 of the toughest cowboys in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Professional Bull Riders Association took on some of the rankest bulls in the sport.
This year’s Roughy Top Gun Invitational New Year’s Eve Bull Riding, produced by Chad Denton of Busted Up Productions, did not disappoint. “It was the best one yet,” Denton said. Drawing on his experience hosting New Year’s Eve bull ridings in 2023 and 2024, Denton continues to deliver a top-tier PRCA Xtreme Bulls event, attracting riders from across the nation.
This year’s event payout totaled $32,900 and paid out over eight places. Taking home nearly $13,000 for two eight-second rides was Colten Fritzlan of Rifle, Colorado, who marked 174 points on two rides. His first ride scored an outstanding 87.5 aboard Western Rodeo’s bull Uh-Oh, followed by an 86.5 in the final go-round.
Following closely behind was Lane Vaughan of Klamath Falls, Oregon, earning $8,656 on two rides. Vaughn scored 84 points in the first round and an impressive 87 in the final round. Third place went to Hudson Bolten of Milan, Tennessee, the 2025 Professional Bull Riders Rookie of the Year. Bolten scored 86.5 in the first go-round, earning $5,634 in prize money, despite being bucked off in the final round.
Three riders tied for fourth place, all scoring 85 points in the first go-round, but not making eight seconds in the final go: Luke Mackey of Ignacio, Colorado; Wade Tuni of Rock Point, Arizona; and Ethan Skigquist of Elk River, Minnesota. Coming in seventh was Mossy Waite of New Plymouth, Idaho, with an 84.5-point ride, followed by Tyler Bingham of Howell, Utah, who scored 84 points.
During the intermission between the first and final go-rounds, youth bull riders took to the arena on mini bulls, including Fallon’s own Rostin Snow, who recently earned a third-in-the-world standing with a strong showing at the 2025 YETI Junior National Finals Bull Riding. Also making a solid showing was Fallon’s Beau Drake, who is currently ranked second in bull riding for the 2025–26 Nevada High School Rodeo season.
The evening kicked off with a western market and a VIP tri-tip dinner, as rodeo-goers filled the stands. After hours of high-adrenaline rides and buck-offs by some of America’s finest bull riders, accompanied by comic relief delivered by professional bullfighter Dwayne Hargo, the New Year was ushered in with cheers, laughter, and dancing during a live performance by Chad Bushnell.
Do not worry if you missed it. Chad Denton’s family-friendly Top Gun Xtreme Bulls event will be back next year.
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