WEATHERFORD —
It’s time for the eight-second thrill of a life time for those adrenaline seekers out there. The Professional Bull Riders arrived in Weatherford Friday evening to start the two-day event — the Touring Pro Division.
The tour consists of a fierce bull riding competition to weed out the toughest from the tough. Winners from the Challenger Tour offer bull riders an opportunity to compete for a position at the elite Built Ford Tough Series, held in Las Vegas in October.
The Battle of the Bulls is just that, a battle against the fierce and untamed. Imagine facing a 1,500 pound bull named Tomahawk or Judgement Day. Bull owners paid $1,000 to have their bull compete, as well. The best bull will buck the rider off in less than eight seconds, and the one who does so every time, makes the most money.
“Bull riding is a young man’s sport,” Justin Adams said. Adams has been riding bulls for 15 years and for about 10 years with the PBR.
“It’s not like golf, where you get better the older and more you play, you just get smarter,” Adams said with a chuckle.
“You don’t get worse, you get wiser,” Jason Mira added. Mira is from Greensland, Australia, and is competing for the first time on American soil. Not new to bull riding, he appears confident, smiling and joking with Adams.
Adams prepared himself mentally and probably most importantly, physically — stretching his calves — they will be what keep him on the bucking bull.
Another Australian, Jaime Hasted, is also here in the U.S. for the first time to ride. He has been riding for the past 17 years.
“The bulls here seem to be a better quality and a lot narrower than the ones back home,” Hasted said as he was taking a break from the bull pen and browsing the craft and souvenir booths.
Despite the fact every bull rider was facing an animal that seemed to snarl whenever one glanced at them, they all appeared in a light-hearted mood, joking and attentive to each other’s needs while one grabbed a couple bottles of water or doling out a pat on the back for a job well done. The reality that they may be bucked off their bull and seriously injured didn’t seem to phase them in the slightest, or they hid it very well.
The bull pen was filled with a sense of camaraderie among the riders, perhaps, of course, secretly hoping they would be the winner. The fact remained that they also hoped everyone made it through the night in one piece. Gratefulness seemed to follow them out in the arena as they were flung off the bull, assisted by the bullfighters. The riders never failed to acknowledge them prior to leaving the arena, with a handshake or a simple nod of the head.
A bull riding competition is not complete without the Mutton Bustin’ competition. Cade McGhan, 6, from Weatherford, with his head down, appeared shy when approached for a comment. But when asked when he would like to start riding bulls, he thought for a brief second, “Maybe when I am about 15,” he said confidently.
Confidence, physical stamina and sheer guts is clearly what it takes. J.B. Mauney, from Mooresville, N.C., was Friday night’s first place winner of the night.
Following the bull riding competition, Jake Hooker and the Outsiders performed Friday evening, and Saturday, the Kyle Bennett Band entertained fans.
The Battle of the Bulls has been hosted by Weatherford for 13 years, and is a highly-awaited event for the community.
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