Beef bash fires bulls up

Alan Kennedy | 12th May 2009

RODEO: They went to the Great Western on Friday as high-riding cowboys, but all made the same impact as they slammed into the Rockhampton dust.

That was the story for 20 of the best bull riders around as they took it in turn to be tipped southwards by a gyrating beast.

Thoughts that the livestock might be jaded after a tough five days during Beef Week were swiftly dispelled as the beasts had a convincing victory over the boys who attempted to ride them.

Big-name bull riders were made to look fairly ordinary as the beasts had obviously taken exception at being ridden so during the week and took it out on any cowboy invading their space.

With all riders being thrown, the bull fighters became the heroes as these protection athletes earned the applause of the crowd as cowboys got into trouble during their involuntary dismount.

The aim was to give the four highest-scoring cowboys from the first round a chance to conquer four finest-quality bucking beef and grab the major prizemoney.

It was not too hard to select the final four as there were just four who lasted the full eight seconds.

First top-name cowboy to face the full fury of a bucking beast was Stu Frame on Castaway. It was Frame who failed to cast away quickly enough and he must surely have ended with one arm longer than the other as he was dragged around the arena by the angry animal before bullfighters could free him.

If points were awarded for the height a cowboy could reach when tossed from his bull then Brett Cross would have been unbeatable as Hazzard gave the Rockhampton cowboy a chance to view the arena from the highest available viewing position.

Brad Corrie was the only success in the opening half of the show, riding a Shane Iker bull for 79 points.

The cowboys did better in the second half with three rides from 10 attempts.

Matt Postle's ride on another Iker beast was far from pretty, but it did earn the man from Mundubbera 74 points.

Postle's brother Craig gave the family every chance of taking the prizemoney when he stayed aboard Rapid Fire for the regulation eight seconds to earn 77 points. However, what turned out to be the ride of the night came from New South Wales cowboy Rhys Angland.

Riding Johnny Mac, Angland made the trip look particularly easy. With a style similar to Ben Seeds, Angland sat erect on the bucking bull and then as a final insult to the animal dismounted cleanly, landing on his feet for an 80-point score.

The draw for the best bull gave the cowboys a chance to collect points necessary to take home the extra pocketmoney.

Matt Postle came and went with the one-horn bull Gold Digger not helping his attempt to earn some dollars.

Brad Corrie was comfortable on Man Eater, at least for about five seconds.

Craig Postle was no match for Brian Duggan's Junk Yard Dog with the bull bucking four times before Postle went in search of a soft spot in the dirt.

That left Angland against another Duggan bull, Western Star. The New South Welshman may look a class above other cowboys when he's riding a bull, but he looks no different from the others when sent sprawling in the dirt and that is what happened in a very short time.

Angland need not have worried too much as his first ride was still the night's overall win.

Life was as tough in the horse divisions with juniors testing themselves in both the saddle bronc and bareback rides while the crowd was entertained by big bucking from the Shetland ponies.

Just four lasted the full eight seconds