Turns out Black Top was as good as advertised.

Maybe even a little better.

The young bull, unrideable at a fair PRCA rodeo earlier this summer in Helena, kept its reputation alive by forcing Beau Hill of West Glacier, a finalist at the Canadian National Finals Rodeo, National Finals Rodeo and PRB Finals, to an early dismount and no score Thursday night during the opening performance of the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

“He turns to the right, just jumps ahead and makes it really hard,” Hill said of Black Top.

“Especially bulls like that, that turn away from your riding hand.”

This was the first up-close and personal look Hill had of Black Top. He did get a scouting report on the nasty beast from other riders.

“He’s not rider-friendly,” Hill said.

“He’s strong, he doesn’t have a tight spin. He’s more bucking in a square.

“That’s a good bull,” he added.

“He bucks hard. He’s a bucker. You can win on him.”

But not this time.

Hill was hoping to hit the pay window for a second-straight year at the fair rodeo. Last year he finished third thanks to a 79-point ride on U Turn.

This marked the first time in awhile Hill was able to work the fair rodeo for two-straight years into his busy schedule.

Today Hill flies back to Tennessee for a PBR event.

Despite a disappointing go in bulls, Hill still had plenty to smile about.

“The highlight of my night,” he said of his 5-year-old son Jace, who competed in mutton bustin’ at the rodeo.

“He rode longer than I did tonight. I was real proud of him.”

All total, nine bull riders were up, but only two managed to post scores on Kesler Rodeo Company’s talented stock.

U Turn was also in the chute Thursday and delivered another solid performance. Andy Sivertsen of Belt scored another 79 on the bull for the top score of the evening.

Kanin Asay of Powell, Wyo., scored 72 points on Ghostbuster.

Kesler’s bucking horses also ruled in the saddle bronc as only three cowboys out of 12 reached the eight-second whistle.

Buck Ryan of Blackfoot, Idaho, had the top ride, 72 on Strawberry Alley, followed by Dustin Thompson of Okotoks, Alberta, 71 on Bookmark, and LeRoy Eash of Fortine, 70 on

Rimrock.

Heath Ford of Elkhart, Texas, had the best ride in the bareback, scoring 81 points on Seat Sale.

Other event leaders are: Walt Anseth of Helena in steer wrestling, 6.2 seconds; Matt Robertson of Augusta and Chase Tryan of Helena in team roping, 7.6; Dustin Bird of Cut Bank in tie-down roping, 8.6; and Shelly Anzick of Livingston in barrel racing, 17.26.

The second performance of the fair rodeo is tonight at 7:30.

Thursday’s Results

Bareback — 1. Heath Ford, Elkhart, Texas, 81; 2. Chris Timberman, Columbus, 75; 3. Troy Vaira, Richey, 69.

Steer wrestling — 1. Walt Anseth, Helena, 6.2; 2. Josh Granell, Havre, 6.4; 3. Keith Whitemarsh, Pasco, Wash., 12.4

Saddle bronc — 1. Buck Ryan, Blackfoot, Idaho, 72; 2. Dustin Thompson, Okotoks, Alberta, 71; 3. LeRoy Eash, Fortine, 70.

Team roping — 1. Matt Robertson, Augusta/Chase Tryan, Helena, 7.6; 2. Delon Parker, Worden/Justin Viles, Cody, Wyo., 12.2; 3. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank/Jimmy Cole, Harlem, 12.8.

Tie-down roping — 1. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, 8.6; 2. Delon Parker, Worden, 9.1; 3. Justin Viles, Cody, Wyo., 9.4; 4. Custis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 13.0.

Ladies barrel racing — 1. Shelly Anzick, Livingston, 17.26; 2. Annie Novotny, Billings, 17.36; 3. Deena Moeykens, Three Forks, 17.37; 4. Lindsay Karp, Winston, 17.48; 5. Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, 17.53; 6. Danna Whitford, Browning, 17.86; 7. Maddie Matelli, Kalispell, 17.92; 8. Jamie Martin, Great Falls, 18.38; 9. Donna Johnson, Belt, 22.46.

Bull riding — 1. Andy Sivertsen, Belt, 79; 2. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo., 72.

Wild pony race — 1. Caitlin Morrison, Nate Sommers and Julian Kaptanian, 15.4; 2. Trey Carmalt, Bryce Schaffer and Shelby Olsen, 16.8; 3. Hailey Gardner, Alexa Garder, Eric Gardner and Aiden Timberman, 32.5; 4. Cari Keller, Kendra Skelton and Tyler Houle, 31.5.