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Bullriding brings thrills to Del Rio
Published May 5, 2007
The stock trucks have arrived, bulls bedded down, bull riders pulling into town, fans are in a ticket buying frenzy and, all for good reason.
Many of the Professional Bull Rider’s top bull riders are in or headed to Del Rio from Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.
The United States is represented by contestants from California, Louisiana, Kansas, Montana, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and of course, Texas.
The eastern states may seem unlikely bull riding country however, consider J. B. Mauney, from Mooresville, North Carolina currently ranked first in Qualifier Standings in the PBR and second in the race for a world championship has already amassed $386,000 this year and he is just one of the new breed from east of the Mississippi.
First, an explanation will help new fans understand the PBR rankings.
Qualifier Standings are determined by how many dollars are won in a given season. The top forty-five members by dollars won qualify for the year end PBR Finals held the last weekend in October and the first weekend in November in Las Vegas.
Over one-half million dollars is awarded at the PBR Finals. Points however, determine who the world champion will be at the end of the finals and those points are accumulated over the year from scores on rides.
Additional points are awarded for how well one places in the go-round in each event and how well one places in the average in each event. The scores and money at the George Paul Memorial Bull riding, the Original Superbull, count for a world championship and the dollars won count for qualification for the PBR Finals.
One might think a world championship buckle on a belt would be enough incentive to be a world champion and for most it was. That was then and this is now.
In addition to telling friends and peers you are a world champion the year end bonus for being crowned world champion is one million dollars. That can buy some nice land and a few cows.
Back to the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. The history of this event is unrivaled and is second to none.
This is where the idea for the PBR was formed fourteen years ago by such rodeo and bull riding legends as Jim Sharp, Tuff Hedeman, Michael Gaffney, Cody Lambert, Ty Murray and a host of other great cowboys. What they saw and experienced in Del Rio made them realize what the great formula for stand alone bull riding.
Take the best bull riders plus the best bulls and added together – you can’t miss.
The Bobby Paul family and Del Rio should take pride in the fact that this event is responsible for more than three hundred annual bull ridings under the PBR banner and a television audience of 100 million plus.
The bulls at this event are supplied by the national award winning Bad Company of Del Rio owned by Mac Altizer. Bulls like Walk This Way, Bad Company, Hammer Time, Sharp Dressed Man and many others have thrilled audiences for years and each year his progressive breeding program continues to supply rodeos and bull riding events with award winning buckers.
Additional stock contractors like David Bailey, Oklahoma, Dell Hall, Oklahoma and Bo Davis of Texas, add stock of equal caliber and tenacity.
Even though the best bull riders in the world converge on Del Rio for the two days of competition, on average of only about one third will make the eight second whistle each night.
Saturday night will feature 45 bull riders with the ten best qualifying for a second bull Saturday night.
Sunday, a different set of 45 bull riders will ride with the top ten coming back for a second bull. The top score on two bulls during both days will be declared the winner.
Just a few of the top names who will compete are the aforementioned J. B. Mauney, Mooresville, North Carolina as well as 2004 world champion Mike Lee, Decatur, Texas, Chris Shivers, the 2000 and 2003 world champion from Harrisonburg, Louisiana and 1999 World Champion Cody Hart, Gainesville, Texas.
Additional talent includes Rob Bell, the 1999, 2000 and 2004 Canadian World Champion Bull rider, Jason Bennett, Honey Grove, Texas currently ranked number seven for a world championship, Kasey Hayes, Liberal, Kansas in the number 6 seat for a world championship.
Other outstanding bull riders include L. J. Jenkins, Texico, New Mexico, the 2006 PBR World Finals winner, Beau Hill, Columbia Falls Montana, Brian Herman, Victoria, Texas, Kody Lostroh, LaSalle, Colorado, brothers Cory and Evan Rasch, Clarksville, Tennessee, and the popular Paulo Crimber from Brazil who now lives in Decatur, Texas.
With the caliber of bull riders mentioned and many more that space would not permit and in depth discussion, the 30th George Paul Memorial Bull Riding will be one explosive event guaranteed to have fans cheering on their favorite bull riders Saturday and Sunday.
Oh! Lets not forget many fans like to cheer on the bulls who in recent years have begun to have their own fan clubs.
Performance times are Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at the George Paul Museum, 810 South Main, Del Rio, Texas next to the Emporium. Phone 775-9595. Additional ticket locations are Sam’s Boot Corral, Corral-West Ranch Wear, Wal-Mart and Railway Feeds.
The contestant list as of press time for the event is included, however, is subject to change due to injuries.
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