Battling back to bucking bulls

Local bull rider Warick Kime is looking forward to the second round of the Bullzye Top Guns series at the Great Western tomorrow night.

Chris Ison

NOT many people would ease their way back into rodeo by riding bucking bulls but Warick Kime has.

The star cowboy broke a wrist at the CRCA finals at Gracemere in 2010.

"I was out for 12 months," he said, "I was in a cast for eight or nine weeks."

Kime said he was competing in the bareback ride when he was thrown, the horse tumbling and landing on the cowboy's wrist, causing the damage.

So for Kime's comeback he has restricted himself to bull riding.

"You've got a little more control over them," he said with a grin.

Perhaps control is the wrong word as Kime was sent to the dirt, when riding the Brian Duggan bull Jay Whycee, before reaching the eight second marker in round one of the Top Guns.

Kime said he had felt pretty comfortable until the bucking bull had the final say.

Now the 24-year-old is keen to get a good ride in the second round of the Bullzye Top Guns series at the Great Western's Nissan Navara arena tomorrow night.

Like all competitors in the Top Guns series, Kime is chasing the big prize - a trip to the United States.

"I'm planning to go to Canada later this year and then go to the States for a few shows," he said.

"If I won the free trip it would mean I'd have more spending money."

Kime admits any rider heading to North America has to be in top form.

"The whole idea is being in the top level and that's what it is over there," Kime said.

Even though he is still a young cowboy he is also an experienced competitor.

"I've been riding big bulls since I was 16," he said."

These days the cowboy is happy competing in Central Queensland having broken away from the professional bull riders (PBR) circuit in disappointing circumstances in 2006.

Duggan is excited about what the Bullzye Top Guns series offers fans with tomorrow's show putting 25 of the top bull riders on display.

"We've got Australian champions like Stu Frame competing," he said. Jarrod Borghero, winner of the open ride in the first round of the series on the bull Cochise, is another rider to watch while Sam Larsen is a top eight rider on the PBR circuit having a crack at winning a sizeable payout.

Alan Powell is back to add to his points tally in the saddle bronc division. Although numbers are down for the barrel race the 14 nominations are all quality cowgirls.

PJ Hanrahan and Joe Lyons will be out to catch round one winner Alleisha Priddle. All the favourite stock will be on show like Duggan's Titanic, with Brian King assisting Duggan with bull contracting and bringing beasts like Red Dirt Road and Hazard to the show.

Ross Ford will again supply the horses.

The night has been dedicated to cowboy Matt Postle who suffered a compound fracture to an arm during the New Year show.

"He was released from hospital last week," Duggan said, "he is on the mend and going pretty good."

It will be a long time before Postle can return to his work and those involved in Saturday's show are donating their fees to assist the popular cowboy.

Action begins on Saturday at 7pm.