Plenty of courage by the bull riders year after year

PLENTY of bull riders have booked themselves out of hospital to compete, they are tough just like the footballers who play injured.

PRO TOUR CHAMP: Stanwell rider Jared Borghero went into Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals as pro tour champion. Picture: Dave Ethell/ww.dephotos.com.au

DRY AS A BONE opinion column in Bush Telegraph by Gerard Walsh - A lighter look at rural life

I KNOW one bull rider was taken to hospital to be checked out after the Saturday night session at the Warwick Rodeo.

The great news was there were very few injuries to riders and I didn't hear or see any injuries to the horses or livestock.

But I ended up with a sore knee.

Interesting to read a story in the Daily News about the $7 million injection into the Warwick economy.

Well I added a bit more on Saturday with a visit to the physio.

Don't know how I hurt my knee but I limped around for a couple of days and it will be right by the middle of the week.

I just remembered the words of timed event announcer Wayne McGhee, who spoke of the toughness of steer wrestler Russell Copping, who broke his hand early in the weekend but was back riding in each round and recorded some placings.

There are many memorable stories of players lining up earlier than they should after injuries or carrying on with injuries, such as John Sattler and Sam Burgess in rugby league grand finals and former Leyburn student Shane Webcke playing a grand final for the Broncos when no one thought he was a chance.

It has been happening for years in rodeo, riders virtually booking themselves out of hospital and competing.

They are tough. At the Warwick Rodeo, rough stock announcer Terry Murray spoke of one bull rider who was taken to Townsville Hospital after an injury at the Mount Isa Rodeo.

The rider texted Murray from hospital to say he would be at the national finals in Warwick and, sure enough, he was.

Soon after Murray told the story, the rider was in the sand at the Warwick Showgrounds and it wasn't after an eight-second ride.

Murray talked about bull riding being the most dangerous sport in the world and few could argue.

Even the rider who makes time has to get away from the bull. The bull riders earn the money they win and the rodeo protection clowns do as well.

Two of the quotes of the finals from Murray that I heard were "the rodeo protection clowns get more hits than Google” and "Sam Champ had more problems than Donald Trump”.

The Champ quote was after the rider was in a bit of trouble after being thrown from a bull.

While the majority of the cowboys and campdrafters at the Warwick Rodeo are from regional areas, Champ lives just north of Brisbane.

One Gold Cup finalist was Rodney Crump, from Sydney - it is rare to have a Sydney finalist. Great to see.