Single in Sydney: Sarah says ‘yee ha’ to a wild west night out to meet some real life cowboys

A trip to the Professional Bull Riding Australia National Finals filled Sarah with optimisim about finding the perfect partner. But did it meet expectations?

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JOURNALIST Sarah Swain has been single (but dating) for longer than she cares to remember. That’s because it’s tough out there, as any single will tell you, so to bring hope to others across the city, she’s sharing her no-holds-barred adventures on the Sydney single scene every week.

Cowboy Dreams

I headed to the wild west last weekend in my hunt for love.

Well, western Sydney.

I was at the Professional Bull Riding national finals at Olympic Park, where I hoped to wrangle a cowboy.

Did somebody say, howdy cowboy?

Or at least not get trampled by a bull. (My editor looked worried when I told him what I was doing at the weekend. But not surprised).

In cause you don’t know, bull riding is the sport dubbed the world’s most dangerous.

Riders must stay on a 2000lb creature for eight seconds as it whirrs and bucks.

And this was the big final, with riders from across Australia, as well as the USA and Brazil.

Luckily when we arrived, while the bulls, who had names like ‘Blue Time Dog Worrier’ were safely in pens, the cowboys weren’t.

Checking the Bulls during the Professional Bull Riders Australia National Finals at Qudos Areana. Picture: Mark Evans

And my mate Dan and I got to mingle with them “on the dirt” ahead of the big competition.

I asked one of the organisers, Rick Ruhland, a retired bull rider (most give up in their early 30s) if he had any tips on lassoing a cowboy.

“I think you’ll have no problem!” he smiled.

Yee Ha!

With cowboys galore, it was like being transported to the USA. Picture: Mark Evans

Sorry. Anyway, we’re no city slickers — Dan grew up on a property, while I’ve ridden horses since I was five, and my dream is to go stay on an American ranch.

So, we decided to ask for some photos with them — the perfect chat-up line.

And they were all pretty friendly — one even let me borrow his hat.

But with queues of people, it wasn’t really the location to horse around.

Luckily, after the action there’d be an after party where we’d have time to properly corral a couple. Or so we hoped.

Cody Heffernan can hag on tight, no bull... Picture: Mark Evans

And once we took our seats for the start of the contest it was like we’d been transported to the USA.

We weren’t in Homebush anymore Toto — we were in Kansas. Or Texas.

From singing the national anthem, to commentary like; “He may be small but he’s got the heart of a lion” it was all very stars and stripes.

And it was awesome. Except for one agonising moment when a guy was bucked off and lay motionless, face up on the dirt for a couple of seconds (the Yank commentator asked people to applaud for him, yelling: “There’s a lot of healing power in your hands!”).

Dan and I enjoyed the action

Cody Heffernan rides it out. Picture: Mark Evans

But it also went on longer than a horse’s face, and after three hours we were kind of chomping at the bit to get out.

And to be honest, I was a bit knackered.

I’d been out the three out of the four previous nights and it was catching up with me.

On Tuesday I was at the John Billich Gallery exhibition opening in The Rocks; Wednesday I had a date, and Thursday saw me and my mate Hanna bop along to Human Nature at The Star.

Because the thing is, right now I can’t — or daren’t — turn down an invitation, in case it leads to love

I’d already been invited to see Human Nature that week — one of four nights out in a row

I have a strong case of strong case of Fear Of Missing Out — On A Man.

And tonight was the same.

While I really wanted to start the long drive home, I felt like I really had to ride it out.

So I spurred myself on.

But when we arrived at the Novotel bar, there were no cowboys in sight.

What there was though, were crowds of people.

Rick Ruhland is a retired bull rider.

Budd Williamson even loaned me his hat.

It seemed as though every single one of the 9000 audience members were also keen to rub shoulders with the riders.

And as Dan and I sipped diet cokes (I was also sick of drinking) we realised the only thing we were likely to pull that night was our cowboy boots off.

We were a bit disappointed.

Sigh. But even cowgirls get the blues...

Still, when we got back to the carpark, we spotted two of the star riders packing their cars to head home.

So I didn’t feel too bad about hanging up my hat, too.

Details: pbraustralia.com.au