Bull riding: Urban cowboys get a taste for dust
AT a clinic on the Mid North coast, some wannabe rodeo champions are put through their paces - to prepare for the most dangerous eight seconds in sport.
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THEY are the unlikeliest of cowboys — a jockey, a woman, a high school student and a charity worker — but they are determined to make a name for themselves in the most dangerous eight seconds in sport.
But staying in the saddle of a 1100kg bull for eight seconds takes more than guts, in fact these days this foursome have learned that the four key ingredients for being a good bull rider is discipline, dedication, determination and desire.
They are among the latest batch cowboy recruits who have signed up for Brad Scott’s renowned bull riding clinic at Kempsey on the Mid North Coast where they have learned the correct techniques on how to sit on a bull, ride it and dismount.
“Gone are the days of the school of hard knocks where you just get on a bull and go for it,” Mr Scott said.
“We teach good riding habits from the word go and how to minimise the risk involved with the sport, because lets face it, it’s dangerous. “We give them the tools to be successful so when they step up to the bull they are better prepared.”
Mr Scott, who is a four-time Australia bull riding champion and five-time Australasian bull riding champion, has taught more than 4000 students at the school in 25 years, of which many have gone on to become Australia and New Zealand champions as well as others who have competed against the big guns in America.
While he gets the usual professional riders wanting to refine their skills, he’s finding that now more and more city slickers are being drawn to the sport.
“They come from all walks of life from lawyers and accountants who just want to have a go in a safe environment,” he said.
Sarah Mepham, who is the only woman at the school, said she had always wanted to bull ride but wasn’t allowed to as she was too young. So when she heard about the bull riding clinic, she jumped at the chance.
In her job as a high-rise building window cleaner, she’s used to adrenaline but nothing prepared her for what it felt like riding a bull. After her third ride where she lasted eight seconds, the 21-year-old was lost for words.
“Holly cow, I can’t believe that just happened, that was my first proper ride,” she said.
Former English jockey Andrew Hefferenan might only weigh 54kg but that hasn’t deterred him from taking on a one tonne beast.
“There is no bull riding in England but when I saw it here I wanted to give it a go” Mr Heffernan said.
At the age of 14, Matt Hollis is the youngest at the clinic but he has more bull riding time under his belt than the rest of his fellow recruits having recently placed second at Wingham rodeo for his age.
The youngster has been to five of the clinic and wants to refine his skills so he can take the rodeo circuit fulltime.
“Even though I’ve got a bit of experience I get so much out of these clinics because this is what I want to do,” he said.
As each rider steps out of arena after their ride, Scott is right there to pat them on the back and say good job.
“Bull riding is an extremely dangerous sport, I make no secret about that, that’s why it’s important like any sport that people learn the right way to do this,” Scott says.
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