Day One of George Paul Sees 14 Successful Rides out of 40

May 4, 2008
By Stacy S. Jensen
Special to LIVE!

Rodolfo Esquivel, 18 months old of Coahuila, Mexico, enjoys walking around before the George Paul Memorial Bul Riding event began Saturday. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

George Paul set the standards high with his world record in bull riding.

The bull riders in the competition named after the Del Rio legendary bull rider tried to keep the standards high, too.

The top eight riders Saturday scored between 89 and 93.5 points. Fourteen of the 40 riders completed their rides. They all will return at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4 for the second day to see who will be crowned the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding champion.

Trent Cormier of Houma, Louisiana. scored a 93.5 with his ride on a bull named Maverick. The top score guaranteed him a spot in the $10,000 Bounty Ride on stock contractor Bad Company Rodeo’s bull named "Walk This Way," but an elbow injury caused him to defer the challenge to Dave Samsel of Haslet, Texas who scored 93 points, with his ride on Hasta Luego.

The $10,000 bounty was sponsored by Aldo Ramon of Del Rio and Mexico, the Rancho El Fortin of Coahuila, Mexico and the Championship Bull Riding.

Bad Company Rodeo’s owner Mac Altizer gave some advice before the ride, but Samsel didn't make the eight-second ride. Samsel's not alone. More than 150 have left the chute with the bull and only a handful have successful ridden it.

Cormier

Cormier, a long-haired cowboy, made his third appearance at the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding Event this year. His top score gives him the lead going into Sunday's competition.

He said his dad Louie took him to rodeos when he was young. "I didn't watch," he said while he was five, six or seven-years-old. He was busy doing other things.

Trent Cormier of Houma, La. gets his rope sticky before his ride Saturday at the 31st Annual George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event. Cormier scored a 93.5 riding, which earned him the top spot on the first night of the event. Cormier and other riders return Sunday. (LIVE! Photo/Stacy Stenberg) (click image to enlarge)

Later, he still didn't want to watch – he wanted to ride. "One day I decided to get on a bull," Cormier said. That first time at 12 got him hooked. "It was a rush. I didn't know what to expect and I liked it."

When he gets on top of a bull, Cormier said he tries not to think of anything. Now, the professional rider says he gets to do a job that very few get to do. He stays busy riding bulls, because he says, "I gotta work."

Cormier is raising bucking bulls, but he said he mostly likes to hunt and fish.

Competition continues

The riders did their best in front of a packed Val Verde County Fairgrounds. "It was an overflow crowd," John Ludlum, marketing director for the George Paul Bull Riding said. There were close to 4,000 in attendance.

The top eight after Saturday's rides are: Cormier, 93.5; Samsel, 93; Clint Craig, 92.5; Bonner Bolton, 92; Wesley Silcox, 90; Danny McDowell, 90; Spud Jones, 89.5; and Travis Sellers, 89.

Saturday and Sunday scores will be combined and the top 15 will compete in a final round for a $10,000 grand prize.

A church service for fans and cowboys alike begins at 1 p.m. Sunday. Riding continues at 3 p.m.

Del Rio National Bank won the 2008 Spirit Award for its participation in Western Week. The honor was announced Saturday.

The George Paul Memorial Bullriding event is presented by Ram Country Dodge and co-sponsored by Fred Loya Insurance, the City of Del Rio and Budweiser.