See Martinsville Bulletin article at www.martinsvillebulletin.com for story on Sept. 20 about Patrick County Fair Rodeo on Friday and Saturday
Rough riding in Stuart rodeo
Chris Bowles of Ararat rides a bull during Saturday’s rodeo at the Rotary Field Amphitheater in the Patrick County Fair Grounds in Stuart. (Bulletin photos by Mike Wray)
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Monday, September 20, 2010
By ELIZA WINSTON - Bulletin Staff Writer
Saturday was a dangerous and dusty night for those bold enough to try a ride on a bucking bull or even a stampeding sheep.
Cowboys and cowboys-in-training competed Friday and Saturday night at the two-day rodeo event in Patrick County. The rodeo was held at the Rotary Field Amphitheater in the Patrick County Fairgrounds in Stuart.
Both local and out-of-state cowboys gathered to test their strength against the bucking bulls, while future cowboys gained experience riding sheep in the “mutton bustin’� competition. For some, it was relatively new adventures while others grew up with the sport.
Chris Bowles of Ararat and Hadyn Mitchell of Henry County were both preparing to ride bulls Saturday night. Mitchell said he got into bull riding because he’s an “adrenaline junkie� and has been riding for over a year.
Chase Chandler of Mt. Airy, N.C., has been a practicing cowboy since he was 8 years old. At that age, he could only ride calves, but Chandler now rides bulls in rodeos as often as he can, he said.
Chandler said he currently attends college at Virginia Tech, but his passion is rodeo. Each weekend he travels to a rodeo in a new location to compete, he said.
He has placed in the Professional Bull Riders’ rodeos, which include the best bull riders from around the country. Chandler said he hopes to become a professional bull rider one day.
Billy Robertson from Galax is a professional bull rider who has been riding for 14 years. Robertson said he started riding when he was 15, which is later than many other riders.
Although he lives in Galax, Robertson said he travels to rodeos around the country. For budding bull riders, Robertson advised that “they better really love� the sport.
While bull riding is perfect for thrill seekers, it also can be dangerous. Robertson said he was recently injured despite a thick metal protective vest worn by all riders when a bull stepped on him.
For those who are just learning to ride, bulls aren’t an option. Instead, sheep provide a starting point for children under 6, and older kids graduate to calves.
Dustin Dalton, 9, of Ararat, said he began his cowboy training at the age of 4. Now he is too old to ride sheep, and he has set his sights on one day riding bulls just like his father, R.C. Dalton.
Dalton said he didn’t start riding bulls until he was 24, so he wants his sons to get an earlier start. R.C.’s other son, Gavin Dalton, 6, also is preparing for a future bull-riding career.
Gavin was old enough for the mutton bustin’, and he performed well on “Sweat Pea,� a surprisingly speedy sheep. According to the announcer Saturday night, riding a sheep was easier than a bull because it was “like riding a big pillow with built in handles.� However, the sheep still managed to dash off, leaving small cowboys in the dust with others barely hanging on for a few seconds.
Barrel racing also took place Saturday night. Several people on horseback raced around barrels placed throughout the arena. Later, children participated in a wheelbarrow race.
Zack Vandertie of Franklinton, N.C., finished first in the bull riding competition. Justin Pennington of Randleman, N.C., was second, and Brian Coble, Alamance, N.C., placed third.
Galvin Hazelwood and Austin Cochram, both from Patrick County, won the mutton bustin’ contest.
The rodeo event was presented by Boyce-Holland Veterinary Services, Coor’s-Lawrence Distributing and the Stuart Rotary Club, and it was produced by East of Mesquite.
The rodeo was the kick-off event for the 58th annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair, which will be Tuesday through Sunday in Stuart.
