George Paul Memorial Bullriding to be Broadcast on Television This Year
By SW TEXAS LIVE
Special to LIVE!
WAXAHACHIE, TX — Championship Bull Riding, Inc., is proud to announce the signing of the oldest, stand-alone, bull riding event in rodeo history – the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding in Del Rio, Texas, to be held May 3 and 4 of 2008.
Celebrating its 31st year, the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, also tagged as “Superbull” was the first of its kind. The creation of the event changed bull riding history and paved the way for organizations like the CBR. George Paul is a legend in the bull riding world as the cowboy who rode 79 consecutive bulls in professional competition without being thrown – a record that has never come close to being matched. In fact, CBR’s President and 4-time World Champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman is one of the only riders who have lingered in the distance with 49 consecutive 8-second rides.
George Paul was the 1968 World Champion Bull Rider in the RCA (Rodeo Cowboys Association) and died tragically in a 1970 plane crash as he was flying a personal plane between rodeo competitions. The Paul family began the bull riding contest to honor his memory and dedication to the sport of bull riding.
“It was time for a change and we are excited about the change to the CBR. We’ve been thinking about this for a long time and we finally made a move. We are very excited to have Tuff Hedeman back at our event. We’ve known him for many years and he won this event several times,” said Bobby Paul, the rodeo’s producer and George Paul’s brother.
In fact, according to John Ludlum, Marketing Director for the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding and a PRCA and Texas Circuit 3-time announcer of the year, having the CBR coming to Del Rio will feel like an old fashioned home coming.
“We have people travel from different countries all over the world to this event. We have families from all over the United States plan their vacations around this weekend in May. They came to this bull riding when they were kids and now they are bringing their kids to see it. I know that when these fans see Tuff’s name and Terry Williams’ name attached to this bull riding they will feel like they are being reunited with old friends. Our fans are going to be excited and know they can expect a quality production,” said Ludlum.
Legendary bull rider, the late Lane Frost is rumored to have said that if a rider could only win three buckles in his lifetime, that he would want one of them to be from the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. Frost accomplished that feat along with other bull riding greats Denny Flynn, Charles Sampson, Hedeman, Jerome Davis, and Jim Sharp.
“The thing about dealing with Tuff and Terry is that there are things about them that go back to what stand-alone bull ridings are all about. Our two organizations are a natural fit because quality, sportsmanship, toughness and cowboy attitude are what we are both all about. Our bull riding is the real deal. We are not in a cushy, air conditioned stadium with soft seats. We are mud, blood, guts, and beer. We go forward no matter what the weather is like in the true tradition of what bull riding is about. The cowboys that win our event are the toughest in the world because they have to deal with all the elements. You have to toughen up if you are going to win here,” said Ludlum.
CBR co-founder and Chairman of the Board Terry Williams said that he agrees that this join-up in forces is a perfect fit.
“This is a great bull riding for the CBR to have. This is the bull riding with the most history in the world. Back when I supplied the bulls for them, it was always my favorite one to go to,” said Williams.
Hedeman agrees saying, “As a competitor it was always one of the highlights of the year because it was the most fun to attend and the most prestigious to win. I think it is huge that the CBR has signed the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding to our schedule. Anybody that knows anything about bull riding knows what the significance of George Paul was to the sport, and it is really an honor for us to have it.”
Bobby Paul, who still ranches the same 30,000 acres in northern Mexico on which he grew up with his brother George, says that the switch to the CBR was necessary to continue his brother’s legacy and to make his bull riding event the best it could be. A big incentive for the move was the opportunity to have the event aired on television during CBR’s weekly program featured on RFD-TV on Wednesday nights.
“In this little town, this is the biggest event around of any kind in the area. It is important to us that we continue to make it the best it can be both for the fans and for my brother’s memory,” said Paul.
The always sold out event will feature the top 40 bull riders of the CBR. Advance tickets are highly recommended and can be purchased at the George Paul Museum in Del Rio, call the rodeo office at (830) 775-9595, or email sales@georgepaulbullriding.com. Ticket prices start at $17 per day.
About the CBR:
Championship Bull Riding, Inc. (CBR) - Led by bull riding icon, Tuff Hedeman, the CBR is a nationwide bull riding tour with over 450 television hours in 2007 on SD and HD channels, including 104 hours of weekly primetime coverage. CBR has been voted the #1 Fan Favorite Special Interest Show on the Outdoor Channel three consecutive years. Labeled the "fastest hour on television", and the first in the industry to broadcast in High Definition, the CBR promotes high quality, professional level bull riding. Beginning March 2008, CBR events will air on RFD-TV, on Wednesdays 10pm EST with repeats airing Wednesdays 12pm EST and Saturdays 11am EST. RFD HD airings include Thursday 12am EST, Thursday 10am EST and Saturday 11pm EST. For more information on the CBR or a schedule of the 2008 events, please visit www.CBRbull.com. CBR is committed to the riders, the fans, the sponsors, and all those involved in the professional bull riding industry.
You must be registered and logged in to post comments
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
Do you like or dislike this story? Please take a quick survey to help us improve. Click here.
Great response from Mr.
Great response from Mr. Ludlum and my two cents worth is that Tuff knows bullriding and will bring back to the George Paul Memorial Bullriding aka Superbull the true meaning of what this event was for. The event used to be an invitational only event and the riders were "honored" to participate in the ONLY bullriding event in the country. There were ONLY 50 invitations made and I personally saw the excitement that was received when they were handed an invite, including great riders like Aaron Semas and Charlie Sampson.
We have seen world champions created at this event such as Royd Doyle. The television is a plus for Del Rio but I am delighted to see Tuff back in town. Please remember even if you don't know someone of the riders....keep an open mind... it just might be a champion in the making.
Thanks for the comments and
Thanks for the comments and asking for additional information. Tuff Hedeman won the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, Superbull, three times, 1986 when he and the late Lane Frost were co-champs, 1992 and 1995. Tuff also was a four-time world champion bull rider.
The PBR was formed bu bullriders to have a venue for just bull riding sixteen years ago. Among the founders were Tuff Hedeman, Ty Murray, Aaron Semas, Michael Gaffney, Jim Sharp and about twelve other bull riders. The formula for the organization of their assocuation and their bull ridings was based on what the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding had done successfully as a "stand-alone bull riding", meaning that bull riding was the sole event. The idea behind the organization was that as a stand alone event the potential for making more prize money available to bull riders was greater than being part of a total rodeo package.
Tuff Hedeman left the PBR and founded Championship Bull Riding, Inc. with many- time stock contractor of the year, Terry Williams several years ago.
The first George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was in conjunction with a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo in 1978. The separate day for just bull riding after the three-day rodeo became so popular that Bobby Paul made the decision that a two-day bull riding with no rodeo would be the best format for his event.
This past weelend Bobby Paul and I went to El Paso for a Tuff Hedeman-CBR bull riding event. Bobby and the George Paul Memorial Bull riding were recognized as a new addition to their list of CBR bull riding events as the oldest, continuous bull riding in the world. The reception by CBR bull riders, staff and the El Paso audience was amazing.
By joining forces with CBR, we will be televised to over 32 million households on the RFD-TV and RFDHD-TV network which will bring attention to our event and Del Rio. For Tuff and us, it is like a homecoming to have him back associated with our event. The professional manner in which CBR conducts their bull ring and themselves will be a great addition to our bull riding. Additionally, the hugh RSD LDS electronic scorboard will provide the riders name, where he is from, the riders score, timing clock and instant replay for our fans, a tremendous addition for our audience. ALL bull riders will be available at the conclusipon of each performance to sign autographs in the arena. World champions Cody Handcock, Wesley Silcox, Bonner Bolton and many National Finals Rodeo contestans and CBR Finals bull riders verbally commited to being here May 3-4 for our bull riding. The entry list will be finalized two weeks prior to the event so fans will know what performance their favorite riders will participate.
For the Bobby Paul family and myself, thanks for your interest and we look forward to seeing many old friends and making new friends and fans at the 31st George Paul Memorial Bull riding, May 3-4, 2008. Please fell free to ask any additional questions and again, thanks for your interest and comments.
John Ludlum, Marketing Director, George Paul Memorial Bull Riding.
John, thanks for your
John, thanks for your epistle. Did CBR replace PBR, or is it a competitor?
Mr. Ludlum, perhaps you can
Mr. Ludlum, perhaps you can provide better understanding on CBR. We know that there was/is a PRCA and that PBR was a spinoff of PRCA. Is CBR a startup that replaced PBR, or does it compete directly with the PBR? Couldn't find the answer on their web site http://www.cbrbull.com/
I am glad to see Tuff and
I am glad to see Tuff and company coming back to Del Rio. I travel from Houston every year to DR to see the SuperBull event and with Continental airlines serving Del Rio it just got Better and easier for us. I would like to say to the Val Verde county commissioners to show support in renovating or expanding the Val Verde Fairgrounds complex to become the premier outdoor event center in the Middle Rio Grande region. I am sure a lot of cities would like to have a complex of this size It has some much potential for revenue from all type of events. I visited a friend of ours in Enid,Okl. The city is about the size of Del Rio (48,000) and the fairgrounds is similar in size to the Val Verde complex it also use to be a horse race track. Check it out at chisholmtrailexpo.com it would be nice to see a similar complex in Del Rio.I read that this year's SuperBull is going to be televise nationally. County employees better get out the paint brush and start painting so that the camera won't focus on a bad spot during the taping. Just kidding, but the Fairgrounds does need attention if it's going to be in the television spotlight. Good Luck Del Rio and Val Verde County.
groves2000, Amen to that, we
groves2000,
Amen to that, we are very proud of the event and the Paul family for bringing it to us every year. Sure wished our county saw the potential.
Thanks for supporting Del Rio
This is a perfect fit and NO
This is a perfect fit and NO ONE knows bullriding like Tuff. I am so excited to see him back in Del Rio. It was never the same without him. I do believe it was 3 times that he won Superbull.
I am delighted to hear that,
I am delighted to hear that, I think this is a great fit for the Superbull, Del Rio, and Tuff Hedeman. I've been a big fan of this event eversince I moved to Del Rio, but am a big fan of bullriding for many years. This is a great addition to CBR.
How many times did Tuff win the Superbull, can you tell me?