The Baddest Bull Riding Event of them All
Bull riding is more exciting today than ever before. And so is the annual George Paul Memorial Bull Riding (GPMBR) event held every year in Del Rio. This year's dates are May 7 and 8, 2011. Bull riding has eclipsed traditional rodeo events with money and talent, and now you may get to see the next World Champion Bull Rider perform at the George Paul.
Legends of the sport of bull riding have felt the hardpan of the Val Verde County Fairgrounds area for 32 years and counting. Bull Riders Denny Flynn, Charles Sampson, Lane Frost, Tuff Hedeman, Cody Lambert, Jerome Davis, Ross Coleman, and Jim Sharp have won the coveted George Paul Memorial Bull Riding championship buckle and the large payday that goes with the title.
Recently, men like J.W. Hart, Sean Willingham, Zack Brown, B. J. Schmaucher, last year’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) World Champion Bull Rider and 2006 GPMBR winner, Robey Condra have claimed the George Paul title. But, who’s going to crowd their space at the pay window and breath down their necks this year? It is a bunch of 19 to 22-year-olds who in past years would not even been considered in the veterans’ league.
What’s changed? Why are so many young, barely-old-enough-to-shave "kids" winning with poise and confidence? The answers to these questions can be found in the past, the present and future.
Over thirty years ago, the first George Paul Memorial Bull Riding contest, tagged the "Superbull," was held in Del Rio to honor the 1968 World Champion Bull Rider from Del Rio who died in a plane crash in 1970.
His 79 consecutive bull rides without being thrown off within the first eight seconds in competition has never been touched. It is doubtful that it ever will be.
At that first bull riding in Del Rio, the only way to enter the contest was to be invited. Only the top 25 bull riders from the PRCA, the National Finals qualifiers, and past world champions were eligible. As the years passed, the event was opened up to anyone who could pay the large entry fee before the books (entry office) closed and, only if you were among the first sixty to enter. Champion bull rider Lane Frost, who was immortalized by the motion picture epic Eight Seconds (1994), once said the best three buckles in the world to win were the world championship, the National Finals Rodeo and the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. Fortunately, he won all three before his death.
Twelve years ago, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization was formed and the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was, at that time, one of only a few PBR-sanctioned events. The PBR was founded by many of the former winners and contestants of the GPMBR. And, at the end of their maiden season, they crowned their own world champion. The PBR was formed and dedicated to only bull riding and no other rodeo events. The PRCA, which had five standard events plus the option of adding two other events, now had a competitor. And would soon feel the heat.
As each year progressed, the PBR sanctioned more bull riding events and grew by leaps and bounds. Many cowboys belonged to both the PRCA and the PBR but, the PBR soon outdistanced the PRCA in annual and event prize money in the bull riding event. Predictably, the cowboys followed the money.
The PBR added a new equation to the mix: Weekly televised contests. With weekly broadcasts, the PBR soon had name and face identification of riders and, to the astonishment of many, name and sight recognition of the bulls as well. Fans and audiences followed the PBR to see who was leading for a world championship and who was going to the PBR Finals held the month before the PRCA’s National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Riding percentages for cowboys and buck-off percentages for the bulls were added to the telecast information. More than one "side bet" for money has been made by spectators that so-and-so could or couldn’t ride such-and-such bull. In rodeo jargon, to "ride" a bull means to stay on the bucking bull for eight seconds or more, long enough to qualify for a score from the arena judges. A loyal fan base is the key factor in the success of any sport. The PBR achieved recognition for its members and that brought more sponsors and money to the sport.
Because of television and the faithful fan base cultivated by the PBR, small boys watch the PBR telecasts with dedication, respect, admiration and envy of the riders. In the hearts and minds of many of these young athletes, a desire to be a bull rider is born.
The future of bull riding, and from where these young contestants are coming was, and is, a direct outgrowth of numerous cable and satellite television broadcasts that captivated young viewers. Country boys, city boys, boys from Chicago, New York, Texas and Tennessee saw PBR programs and that captivated their attention. It gave them the desire to be a bull rider.
Needless to say, youth, junior, high school and college rodeo, as well as rodeo and bull riding schools, have played a large part in teaching and giving experience to the current crop of young bull riders. Many are now entering the professional ranks as soon as they turn 18 years old.
Like racing horse jockeys, these smaller athletes realize that being 5’6" to 5’9" and weighing 130 to 155 pounds is not necessarily a detriment to being a bull rider—and a successful one at that.
The future of professional bull riding is in riders who are getting younger and younger. The over-30 gang is feeling the challenge of the younger bunch while they also contend with the pain of their broken bodies caused by years of competition.
The only question is how long can the young guns stay healthy and keep up the relentless travel schedule to be a world champion? Whoever does will win a million dollar bonus at the end of the PBR season.
More than 100 million viewers tune in each week to PBR telecasts with over 500 hours of prime time telecasts. There are over 1,200 PBR bull riders and they compete in more than 300 sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. The future bull rider and world champion may be attending the 34th George Paul Memorial Bull Riding this year.
The amazing part of the story is that the death of the greatest bull rider of all time, George Paul from Del Rio, forged this great annual event at Del Rio’s fairgrounds.
This weekend's event marks the fourth time that Four-time World Champion Bull Rider Tuff Hedeman's Championship Bull Riding (CBR) has been the sanctioning organization and has become a crowd favorite with big screen replay, fast paced production and top quality stock and contestants. Defending GPMBR Champion Clint Craig of Mena, AK is entered along with former GPMBR winner Cooper Kanngiesser.
Tickets for the 34th annual George Paul Memorial Bull Riding can be purchased at the George Paul rodeo office, (830) 775-9595, or online at the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding Web site.
Contributed photos by Jennings Rodeo Photography (Sonora, Texas) and the black and white photos contributed by Ferrell Butler.
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