Riders and Bulls converge upon Del Rio today for legendary George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event

Robey Condra, the title winner of the 2006 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding pictured at last year's event in Del Rio, Texas. (photo by Jennings Photography) (click image to enlarge)

The stock trucks have arrived, bulls bedded down, bull riders pulling into town, fans are in a ticket buying frenzy and, all for good reason. Many of the Professional Bull Rider’s top bull riders are in or headed to Del Rio from Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The United States is represented by contestants from California, Louisiana, Kansas, Montana, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and of course, Texas. The eastern states may seem unlikely bull riding country. However, consider J. B. Mauney from Mooresville, North Carolina who is currently ranked first in Qualifier Standings in the PBR and second in the race for a world championship. He has already amassed $386,000 this year, and he is just one of the new breed of young bull riding athletes from east of the Mississippi.

Here is an explanation that will help new fans understand the PBR rankings. “Qualifier Standings” are determined by how many dollars are won in a given season. The top forty-five members by money earned in winnings qualify for the year-end PBR Finals held the last weekend in October and the first weekend in November in Las Vegas.

Over $500,000 is awarded at the PBR Finals. Points, however, determine who the world champion will be at the end of the finals. And those points are accumulated over the year from scores on rides at sanctioned PBR events all over the country. Additional points are awarded for how well one places in the go-round in each event and how well one places in the average in each event. The scores and money at the George Paul Memorial Bull riding, the “Original Superbull,” not only count towards the world championship but also will count for qualification at the PBR Finals. One night think a world championship belt buckle would be enough incentive to be a world champion; and for most it is. But, that was then and this is now. In addition to bragging rights that you are a world champion bull rider, the year-end bonus for the PBR world champion bull rider is $1 Million! That can buy lots of ranch land and a few cows.

The history of the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event is unrivaled and second to none. This is where the idea for the PBR was formed fourteen years ago by rodeo and bull riding legends such as Jim Sharp, Tuff Hedeman, Michael Gaffney, Cody Lambert, Ty Murray and a host of other great cowboys. What they saw and experienced in Del Rio made them realize what the great formula for producing stand-alone bull riding events. Take the best bell riders plus the best bulls and added together, you can’t miss. The Bobby Paul family and Del Rio should take pride in the fact that this event is responsible for over 300 annual bull ridings under the PBR banner and a television audience of 100 million plus viewers.

The bulls at this event are supplied by the award-winning Bad Company Rodeo of Del Rio. This national stock contracting company is owned and operated by Mac Altizer. He’ll supply his stock of famous bulls named after famous rock and roll hits: names like “Walk This Way”, “Bad Company”, “Hammer Time”, “Sharp Dressed Man” and many others. They have thrilled audiences for years. More importantly, though, each year Altizer’s progressive breeding program continues to supply rodeos and bull riding events with award winning buckers. Additional stock contractors like David Bailey of Oklahoma, Dell Hall of Oklahoma, and Bo Davis of Texas add stock of equal caliber and tenacity.

Even though the best bull riders in the world converge on Del Rio for the two days of competition, on average only about one third will make the eight second whistle each night. Saturday night will feature 45 bull riders with the ten best qualifying for a second bull during the second go-around Saturday night. Sunday, a different set of 45 bull riders will ride with the top ten coming back for a second bull. The top score on two bulls during both days will be declared the winner.

Just a few of the top names who will compete are:
J. B. Mauney, Mooresville, North Carolina.
2004 world champion Mike Lee, Decatur, Texas,
Chris Shivers, the 2000 and 2003 world champion from Harrisonburg, Louisiana and 1999 World Champion Cody Hart, Gainesville, Texas.

Additional talent includes:
Rob Bell, the 1999, 2000 and 2004 Canadian World Champion Bull rider,
Jason Bennett, Honey Grove, Texas currently ranked number 7 for a world championship,
Kasey Hayes, Liberal Kansas in the number 6 seat for a world championship.

Other outstanding bull riders include:
L. J. Jenkins, Texico, New Mexico,
the 2006 PBR World Finals winner, Beau Hill, Columbia Falls Montana,
Brian Herman, Victoria, Texas,
Kody Lostroh, LaSalle, Colorado,
brothers Cory and Evan Rasch, Clarksville, Tennessee, and
the popular Paulo Crimber from Brazil who now lives in Decatur, Texas.

With the caliber of bull riders mentioned and many more that space would not permit and in depth discussion, the 30th Annual George Paul Memorial Bull Riding will be one explosive event guaranteed to have fans cheering on their favorite bull riders Saturday and Sunday. Oh! Lets not forget many fans like to cheer for the bulls who in recent years and founded to have their own fan clubs.

Performance times are Saturday May 5th at 7:00 P M and Sunday May 6 at 3:00 P M. Tickets are on sale at the George Paul Museum, 810 South Main, Del Rio, Texas next to the Emporium. Phone 775-9595. Additional ticket locations are Sam’s Boot Corral, Corral-West Ranch Wear, Wal-Mart and Railway Feeds.

The contestant list as of press time for the event is included however, is subject to change due to injuries.

Saturday Night, May 5, 2007 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding

Name Home

Amedee, Trent St. Amant, LA
Askew, Travis Sealy, TX
Baize, Casey Big Lake, TX
Best, Shawn Omak, WA
Bitsui, Ryan Ganado, AZ
Brown, Zachary Santa Fe, TX
Byars, Cody Marietta, OK
Castillo, Chad Lipan, TX
Cochran, David New Caney, TX
Condra, Robey Dayton, TX
Dunford, Jay Menoken, ND
Elliott, Ty Odessa, TX
Faircloth, Josh Randleman, NC
Ferreiro, Adrian Saltillo, Coah
Fortmuller, Max Portales, NM
Garcia, Eddie Crosby, TX
Hart, Cody Gainesville, TX
Hayes, Kasey Liberal, KS
Johnston, Tyler Bridger, MT
Kirby, Jesse James Ashland, KS
Landerneau, Nick Sulphur, LA
Mann, Jake Uvalde, TX
Marchand, Wade Vernon, BC
Mariluch, Markus Elko, NV
Mauney, J.B. Mooresville, NC
McFadden, Cory Coleman, TX
McIntyre, Clay Zolfo Sptings, FL
Miller, Kolt Lake Hills, TX
Moore, Mike Kankakee, IL
Morgan, Cole Collinsville, TX
Morgan, Rowdy Thackerville, OK
Nelson, Mickey Ryndon, NV
Pahlke, Jay Bismark, ND
Radford, Ryan Moorseville, NC
Ricardo, Rico Kirkland, NM
Robinson, Pistol Burleson, TX
Sandoval, Josh Oklahoma City, OK
Sartor, Nicholas Mira Loma, CA
Scroggins, Carey Dean Palestine, TX
Silverman, Wade Mexican Springs, NM
Stevens, Mickey Rio Vista, TX
Timentwa, Waylon Omak, WA
Tucker, Hawk Pampa, TX
Wright, Rylan Midway, UT
Yancy, Sterling Bulverde, TX

Sunday May 6, 2007 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding

Name Home

Bell, Rob Shreveport, LA

Bennett, Jason Honey Grove, TX
Briscoe, Travis Stephenville, TX
Venegas, Geraldo
Collins, Mike Adair, OK
Crimber, Paulo Decatur, TX
Cross, Ned Midland, OR

De Oliveira, Valdiron Gainesville, TX

Denton, Chad Berry Creek, CA
Foltyn, Clayton El Campo, TX

Hamre, A. J. Chico, CA
Herman, Brian Victoria, TX

Hill, Beau Columbia Falls, MT
Hupp, Jordan Cheyenne, WY
Jackson, Craig Houston, TX

Jenkins, L. J. Texico, NM
Johnson, Ross Alvord, TX
Koschel, Josh Greeley, CO
Lathero, Jimmy Fellsmere, FL
LeBaron, Nile Barrow, LA
Lee, Mike Decatur, TX
Lopes, Mark Sutter Creek, CA
Lostroh, Kody LaSalle, CO

Luiz da Silva, Helton Ft Worth, TX
Melton, Corey Tolar, TX

Mendes, Tony Jensen, UT

Morrison, Buckshot Vero Beach, FL
Nance, Cody Paris, TN

Naverre, Corey Weatherford, OK
Nunes, Renato Whitesboro, TX

Palermo, Robson Bryan, TX

Merritt, Palmer

Rasch, Cory Clarksville, TN
Rasch, Evan Clarksville, TN
Richardson, Bryan Dallas, TX
Roquemore, Keith Laytonville, CA
Schiffner, Scott Strathmore, AB
Shivers, Chris Harrisonburg, LA
Silvanei Dias Carvalho Gainesville, TX
Smith, Sam Sulphur Springs, TX
Smith, Tyler Fruita, CO
Stewart, Harve Stephenville, TX
Tull, Nathan Yukon, OK
Yates, Colby
White, James Houston, TX