Meet the Mackay man making bull riding history in the US

He became the first bull rider in six years to unseat perennial PRCA champion Sage Kimzey.

Ky Hamilton in action.

KY HAMILTON has the bull riding world at his feet and he's doing so in the midst of a global pandemic, more than 13,000km from home.

Earlier this month, the Mackay prodigy became the first person since 2014 to unseat perennial Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world number one Sage Kimzey.

At this time every year the rankings go up in lights as the season draws to a competitive close and for the first time since Kimzey took the top spot six years ago, the PRCA had a new top dog come September 1.

That it would be Hamilton, a 20-year-old Australian in his maiden PRCA season, is fitting. He became just the second rookie to top the standings in September following only, you guessed it, Sage Kimzey.

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Kimzey has gone on to win the world championship each year after leading at the beginning of September, blazing a trail for Hamilton to follow should he prove good enough.

Proud mum Sharell Hamilton, whose best laid plans to regularly visit Ky in Texas were shattered thanks to coronavirus, has no doubt her son has what it takes.

When the then-18 year old first relocated to Texas in July 2018 to pursue his bull riding dreams, it would have been understandable for Sharell to be concerned.

Then when coronavirus took hold and her travel link to Ky was cut off, that concern would assumedly have heightened.

But Sharell knows her son better than anyone else. She has lived his bull riding journey since Ky's first steer ride at the age of 12; watched the incredible dedication to the sport he loves take him to the top.

It's why even as the US battles a pandemic while Ky zigzags across the country making a name for himself on the international stage, she can sit back and smile.

Because her faith in Ky is unflappable, both in life and on the back of a bull.

 

"Obviously we're just so immensely proud of him. I'm just so, so happy for him. To be able to see your kid achieve the goals he's set for himself, in a foreign country far from family … we're ecstatically happy for him," Sharell said.

"We've always said that he deserves everything he gets because from the moment he decided to bull ride … he has dedicated every waking moment to every aspect of being that athlete.

"I always thought that Ky's drive, determination and consistent approach to the sport - treating it like a professional athlete in every waking sense - would get him there.

"It was just a matter of him getting over there (to the US) and getting on that calibre of bull."

The peak of Ky's 2020 season will come in December at the Wrangler National Finals, in his adopted home of Arlington, Texas.

The Hamiltons had planned to be in Texas for the event but will instead have to make do with a livestream.

Interestingly, with coronavirus restrictions forcing the PRCA to be proactive with livestreaming events, Ky's family has been able to watch more of his US rides this year than ever before.

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"Even though he's in another country we talk or message him every other day. Sometimes you don't really feel the distance," Sharell said.

"A good thing, if you can call it that, that's come out of the pandemic is the PRCA livestreaming a lot more rodeos. Instead of waiting for Ky to send us the video we can watch a lot of them while it's actually happening."

Ky has ridden in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oklahoma … you name it, he's been there this year.

But Texas is where it all comes to a close, beginning December 3 at the Wrangler National Finals.

"Ten rounds held in Arlington, Texas. The plan there is to do whatever it takes to take out that gold buckle. That's the ultimate prize," Sharell said.

Ky appears destined to wrap up the PRCA Rookie title, having almost doubled the 2020 prizemoney of his nearest rival.

With that feather firmly in his cap, the gold buckle and world champion title are now firmly in his sights.

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