NEW YORK What a weekend for Valdiron De Oliveria. The Brazilian bull rider turned in a big performance by riding five out of five bulls to win the opening event in New York on the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series Tour last week.

Oliverias effort earned him $41,860 and the early lead in the Built Ford Tough World Standings.

It feels pretty good,?he said. This is the fourth time I have been to this event and second time I have won it and this has really helped me for winning points.

Oliveria says he likes competing at Madison Square Garden and compared the New York event to the World Finals in Las Vegas.

This event is a big one in the PBR and twice now I have won this event, he said.

Oliveria turned in a two big rides Sunday topping Deja Blue for 89.5 points and Mellow Yellow Jacket for 91.5 points in the finals.

I think this bull (Mellow Yellow Jacket) is a pretty good bull,?he said. I thought that I could ride this bull.

Oliveria says he was glad to get off to a good start to the season saying it was important to win the first event.

I think I can win some more because this is one of 30-35 events this season,?he said. I want to thank my wife for helping me, the fans and everybody for supporting me.

Australian Ben Jones also turned in a five-for-five effort in New York to take second place. J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, N.C., was third. Summervilles Cody Campbell was fourth and rounding out the top five was L.J. Jenkins of Porum, Okla.

The PBR will head to Arco Arena this weekend for the Sacramento Invitational. The event will be televised on the Versus Sports Network today at 5 p.m.

Some of the PBRs top riders stopped in Denver this week for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeos Denver PBT Chute Out.

World champ Kody Lostroh is the defending champion.

Speaking of Denver, the PRCA winter run of building rodeos are off and running as the 105th annual rodeo kicked off Jan. 8 and runs through this weekend.

The second performance was special as the Denver rodeo honored Wounded Warriors through the USO, the unifying force for bringing America together to meet the needs of Wounded Warriors and their families through corporate, foundation and individual support. The National Western supplied more than 500 tickets to members of the Wounded Warriors, the Colorado National Guard and troops from Buckley Air Force Base. The Color Guard for the opening ceremonies was also provided by the National Guard.

Butch Thurman has covered professional rodeo for 31 years. His e-mail address is butch@rodeosportsupdate.com