ELITE bull riders from Queensland and beyond are set to put on a show at Grass Roots Redland Bay on Saturday January 19.
The event, now in its seventh year, brings together around 130 of Australia’s top cowboys aged eight to 60 for an afternoon of fierce competition.
Long-time Grass Roots competitor 18-year-old Ty Thomson of Mount Walker in the Scenic Rim will be riding in the event for the first time in the open age group.
Having ridden at Grass Roots for the first time as an 11-year-old, Thomson said bull riding ran in his family.
“My dad and uncle rode bulls, and we used to have an arena at home and ride once a week,” he said.
A newly-titled National Rodeo Association Novice Bull Riding Champion, Thomson said he was excited to be going back to Grass Roots.
“It’s one of the best paying rodeos in the NRA for the year, and there’s some good bulls in the competition,” he said.
Another young Mount Walker rider, 17-year-old Dan Ruhland has recently started his career in the Australian professional bull riding circuit.
Ruhland said bull riding was ingrained in his family history, and the thrill of the ride kept him coming back to Grass Roots every year.
“My dad rode bulls, my mum’s dad rode bulls, it runs in the family,” he said.
“[Bull riding] is just a rush. It’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle.
“Once you start riding bulls, that’s it. That’s just what you do.”
Steve Walker, finalist competitor in the world title senior bull ride in 2018, will be riding in the senior category alongside Australian over 50 bull riding champion Mark Johnson.
Grass Roots organiser Jesse James said the pair represented the best of what bull riding had to offer.
“If you want examples of chivalry and respect then these two guys are a true representation of this,” he said.
Thanks to the riders, Grass Roots was the largest standalone bull ride on the National Rodeo Association calendar, Mr James added.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to come down and see how the people from the country live and experience a real bull ride,” he said.
Grass Roots will be held on January 19. Funds raised will go towards the Cage Youth Foundation, which provides information and support for young people and their families in the Redlands.
More details and event tickets can be found at grassrootsbullriding.com.au.
