By Jeremie Newcom
Bull riding, America’s original extreme sport, has its roots in contests of equestrian and ranching skills. It’s a fierce, grueling, adrenaline-charged sport that features a cowboy on the back of a hulking, temperamental bull that bucks, lunges, kicks, spins, and twists in an effort to throw the rider off.
The Friendship Bull Bash Pro Bull Riding was held in conjunction with the Friendship City Festival on Saturday, October 5, and featured bull riders from all over the mid-south, as well as world champion Bullfighter Jon Roberts. The event was presented by Cowboys for Christ and Double E Productions who organize a number of bull riding competitions throughout the year.
Corey Bailey was winner of the Double E Productions Rodeo season buckle. The Paris native, age 22, started riding bulls when he was twelve years old. He smiles broadly when he talks about the sport he loves.
Once the chute is open and the bull storms out, the bull rider must attempt to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds. The ride is scored from 0-100 points, with both the rider and the bull are awarded points. Ronnie Manness was the winner of the Friendship Bull Bash, with a 90-point ride!
Chad Owens, from New Albany, Mississippi, has been riding “since Moby Dick was a sardine,” he said. The twenty-three-year old prefers riding bulls with extraordinary action and moves to get a better score.
Cory Ridens, from Shelbyville, Tennessee, started riding horses and steers as a child. Born and raised in California, his parents, Roy and Barbara, brought him up in the sport of rodeo. After watching the movie Eight Seconds as a young boy, Ridens decided he wanted to be a bull rider. The twenty-four year old, whose parents died when he was eighteen, moved to Tennessee two years ago with three suitcases and four-hundred dollars in his pocket.
Every time a bull rider gets on, they are risking their lives. Injuries can be significant—something Matthew Webb is familiar with. The twenty-four year old was injured during a competition in August when a bull struck him, shattering every major bone in his face. Webb, a U.S. Army helicopter crew chief who has seen combat in Iraq, is in his first year of bull riding. He got into the sport because he wanted to “join his friends.”
“Riding bulls is about the thrill of the ride and the friends you make along the way,” said Webb, smiling. “It’s the only sport where you do everything you can to help your competition and hope they succeed.”
Bull riding, America’s original extreme sport, has its roots in contests of equestrian and ranching skills. It’s a fierce, grueling, adrenaline-charged sport that features a cowboy on the back of a hulking, temperamental bull that bucks, lunges, kicks, spins, and twists in an effort to throw the rider off.
The Friendship Bull Bash Pro Bull Riding was held in conjunction with the Friendship City Festival on Saturday, October 5, and featured bull riders from all over the mid-south, as well as world champion Bullfighter Jon Roberts. The event was presented by Cowboys for Christ and Double E Productions who organize a number of bull riding competitions throughout the year.
Corey Bailey was winner of the Double E Productions Rodeo season buckle. The Paris native, age 22, started riding bulls when he was twelve years old. He smiles broadly when he talks about the sport he loves.
Once the chute is open and the bull storms out, the bull rider must attempt to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds. The ride is scored from 0-100 points, with both the rider and the bull are awarded points. Ronnie Manness was the winner of the Friendship Bull Bash, with a 90-point ride!
Chad Owens, from New Albany, Mississippi, has been riding “since Moby Dick was a sardine,” he said. The twenty-three-year old prefers riding bulls with extraordinary action and moves to get a better score.
Cory Ridens, from Shelbyville, Tennessee, started riding horses and steers as a child. Born and raised in California, his parents, Roy and Barbara, brought him up in the sport of rodeo. After watching the movie Eight Seconds as a young boy, Ridens decided he wanted to be a bull rider. The twenty-four year old, whose parents died when he was eighteen, moved to Tennessee two years ago with three suitcases and four-hundred dollars in his pocket.
Every time a bull rider gets on, they are risking their lives. Injuries can be significant—something Matthew Webb is familiar with. The twenty-four year old was injured during a competition in August when a bull struck him, shattering every major bone in his face. Webb, a U.S. Army helicopter crew chief who has seen combat in Iraq, is in his first year of bull riding. He got into the sport because he wanted to “join his friends.”
“Riding bulls is about the thrill of the ride and the friends you make along the way,” said Webb, smiling. “It’s the only sport where you do everything you can to help your competition and hope they succeed.”
