It might be the toughest eight seconds in sports and it’s coming to the South Cariboo Community Fall Fair in 100 Mile House, Sept. 7-8.
Rodeo fans are in for a treat, says Dave Atkinson, a bull fighter and stock contractor whose Diamond D Rodeo Bulls is supplying the event along with C-Plus Rodeos from 150 Mile House.
“There’s no where else you can show up, pay $15 [general admission], and see 40 bulls in one day. That’s a lot of bulls to buck in one day.”
Admission to the inaugural event at the 100 Mile & District Outriders Club Arena is $10 for students and $5 for seniors and children. This includes admission to the fall fair.
“The fall fair is such a great event in 100 Mile House and it’s been going on for years. We thought this would help draw extra crowds there and bring some more business to the community.
“That’s why we need more sponsors to step up. These guys are coming to ride for a pile of money. “There’s $20,000 in prize money up for these guys that weekend. It’s not your run-of-the-mill $500 rodeo. It’s going to draw a lot of extra people to town.”
Atkinson is talking about 20 of the top bull riders in the British Columbia Professional Bull Riders Association who will be taking a spin on some of the best bucking bulls in the country.
Of the close to 60 bulls available to ride, Atkinson named a few top ones to watch – Ralph, Fraggle Rock and Disturbia.
“I know C-Plus is going to probably bring out one of their best bulls – a bull called ‘Disturbia.’ He’s been to the Canadian Finals three or four times. He’s one of the best bulls in Canada.”
The plan is to have the riders atop younger bulls for their first ride of the day, then have them on the more experienced bulls on their second ride, Atkinson explains.
“We’re going to match them up with some of the best bucking bulls we own. We’re going to bring a whole bunch of young bulls. They’re the up-and-coming superstars of our bullpens.”
The judges base half their scoring on the bull rider and the other half on the bull. Atkinson estimates scores in the low 80s (out of 100) with the younger bulls, and says the older bulls will score in the high 80s and 90s.
What’s the difference between them?
“They just love their job that much. They’re usually bulls that are six or seven years old and older. They love to buck.
“It’s no different than an all-star athlete like Barry Bonds, Wayne Gretzky, or someone like that. These bulls are the Wayne Gretzkys of the rodeo world. They’re born to buck and they’re raised for that.”
Starting at 1 p.m. at the Outriders Arena (behind the South Cariboo Rec. Centre) each day, the crowd “will see some good bull rides, some real good bulls and a lot of guys hit the dirt,” Atkinson says, adding they’re going to see the bull fighters “work their butts off.”
“You’re going to see some really good scores.”
