Frances Dall’Alba’s new book Eight Seconds about bull rider Dianne Lucas Luppi

She had to pretend to be a boy just to compete, now this former bull rider’s extraordinary tale has been turned into a book. Find out how this trailblazer’s secret was revealed.

A book has been written about a woman who had to pretend to be a boy just to compete in open bull riding more than 30 years ago.

Malanda author Frances Dall’Alba wrote the book Eight Seconds because she was touched by the life of bull rider Dianne Lucas Luppi who was the first woman to be recognised in open bull riding at Mount Garnet.
Ms Luppi said all she wanted to do was to be able to give it a go.

“I used to get a real thrill out of it and I wasn’t doing it for any other reason other than I wanted to have a go,” she said.

Bull rider Dianne Luppi with Malanda author Frances Dall’Alba. Picture Supplied.

“I wasn’t allowed to compete against men because the Australian Rough Riders Association rules stated women weren’t allowed to compete.”

But Ms Luppi didn’t let this stop her.

“Being tall and skinny I joined the society under the name of Deat Lucas because I was trying to think of a name that was different where they couldn’t take it I was female and male.

“I only rode in a few rodeos disguised as a male, I got called out when I went to Northern Rodeo in Western Australia.

“I wanted to go to the loo. I couldn’t go to the men’s toilet or the women’s. So I went out the back and squatted.

Frances Dall'Alba has written a book about bull rider Dianne Luppi called Eight Seconds. Picture Supplied.

“Someone came around and saw me squatting and said, ‘hell you’re a girl’.”

Ms Luppi said she wasn’t able to compete until she moved to the Far North and the rules allowed her to.

Ms Dall’Alba said the story celebrated Ms Luppi’s triumphs.

“She’s a very inspiring woman, she’s lived a very interesting life,” Ms Dall’Alba said.

“She was in a sport where men didn’t want her there so she had to face these adversities.

“As a young adult she registered as a male rider, so she could get away with riding what she wanted; she cut her hair.”

But the book has one important message.

Frances Dall'Alba has written a book about bull rider Dianne Luppi called Eight Seconds. Picture Supplied.

“Really you can do anything you put your mind to,” she said.

“Don’t give up, despite every adversity in her way she made it to the top of the sport, her health might’ve suffered because of it but she was never one to give up.”

The book will be available for purchase at the Malanda Bull Ride on Saturday. Both will be there with Dianne available from 4pm to 6pm.

Originally published as Frances Dall’Alba’s new book Eight Seconds about bull rider Dianne Lucas Luppi