Top talent anticipated for 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding

March 30, 2008
By John Ludlum
Publisher

Bobby Paul, producer of the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, advises, “The 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding phone is ringing off the wall” for those desirous of getting the best seats for the May 3-4, 2008 event. Interest and enthusiasm are being generated by Tuff Hedeman’s Championship Bull Riding (CBR, Inc.) sponsorship this year’s stand-alone bull riding and a nation wide telecast of both performances.

Hedeman, a national as well as Del Rio bull riding crowd favorite is a four-time world champion bull rider and three-time George Paul Memorial Bull Riding winner. The CBR organization’s first three events for 2008 were held in El Paso, Lufkin and Fort Worth, Texas. The George Paul Memorial Bull Riding is the oldest continuous, stand-alone bull riding in the world, meaning there are no other rodeo events except bull riding.

If 2008 events to date are an indication of the talent that will compete in Del Rio – bull riders as well as bulls – fans are in for an exciting athletic contest. An example of the top flight contestants that competed at Tuff Hedeman’s Bull Riding Challenge in Fort Worth two weeks ago were five world champions. They included Bonner Bolton, Gardendale, Texas, the reigning CBR world champion crowned in Las Vegas, Nev., in January; Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion bull riders Matt Austin, Wills Point, Texas; Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz.; B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro Wis., and Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah. Schumacher was the 2005 George Paul Memorial Bull Riding winner and Silcox is the reigning PRCA world champion bull rider.

One of the interesting stories that will be a part of this year’s contest is that of bull rider Bonner Bolton. In 1991, Bonner’s dad, Toya Bolton, was the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding winner. Should Bolton become the champion this year it would be the first time a father and son will have won the event. Additionally, nine of the top 15 bull riders that competed in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December rode in the Fort Worth event.

The 40 contestants that will enter the bull riding this year will ride in both performances, the first performance being Saturday May 3, 7 p.m., and, the second, Sunday, May 4, 3 p.m.. The top 15 contestants with the best scores on two bulls will come back for a championship round Sunday at the conclusion of second round . One addition to the Saturday night performance will be a bounty bull. The rider with the top score from the first round – when all 40 riders have attempted to ride one bull – will have a chance to ride Bad Company Rodeos’ bull, “Walk This Way” for $10,000. “Walk This Way” has a 90 plus percentage buck-off record however. With top caliber riders anticipated for the event, a chance at winning the $10,000 will encourage heroic efforts by the man who will get the opportunity to try and ride this world-class bucking bull.

Over the weeks leading up to the 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding, stories profiling riders, bulls, TV production personalities, Tuff Hedeman, the history of the event and a backstage look at how the event is produced and managed will be forthcoming. Local interest for the event will be heightened by several contests. An area business will be chosen to win the “Best Western Week Spirit Award”. The best-decorated business and employee participation for dressing western will be picked by three independent judges, and the award will be presented at the Saturday performance. Entry blanks for businesses to enter the contest can be picked up at the George Paul Museum and Gift Shop, 510 South Main.

A second popular contest, initiated in 2007 and entitled “Where’s George,” will also be featured. A life-size cutout of George Paul will be located at different businesses the week of the bull riding. The first person each day who finds the life-sized cutout, takes a picture at the business and, brings it to the George Paul Museum will receive an official George Paul Memorial Bull Riding t-shirt and two general admission tickets for the Saturday night performance. The third contest will be a drawing for two round-trip tickets, hotel accommodations and VIP tickets to the CBR World Finals in Las Vegas, the last weekend in January 2009. Locations for entering the drawing will be announced next week. Tuff Hedeman will host the drawing at the Sunday afternoon performance and the winner will be announced. One does not have to be present to win.

With the event to be telecast to 32 million viewers on RFDTV and RFDHDTV, the oldest continuous bull riding in the world and Del Rio will once again be viewed by a national audience. The event has been previously broadcast three times on TNN.

The 31st George Paul Memorial Bull Riding’s “Presenting Sponsor” is Ram Country Dodge. Co-title sponsors are Budweiser, the City of Del Rio and Fred Loya Insurance. Tickets for the event are on sale at the George Paul Museum and Gift Shop, 810 South Main St., Del Rio, Texas. Phone number for the bull riding office is 830-775-9595.