32ND George Paul Memorial Bull Riding gearing up (continued)

Among the bulls selected one will possibly make a bull rider $10,000 richer. Who will be known as the “bounty bull” is as yet unknown. The selection of the notorious “bounty bull” will be made soon according to Hedeman and George Paul Memorial producer Bobby Paul. The two day event format allows all contestants to ride one bull Saturday night and one bull Sunday afternoon. The top fifteen riders with the top scores on two bulls will receive a third bull Sunday to determine the event champion.

But, Saturday night adds a monetary and suspenseful element that has contestants eager for a shot at the “bounty bull.” The concept was born prior to last year’s event by Bobby Paul and Hedeman. Paul said recently, “When you have the oldest, continuous stand alone bull riding in the world you have to constantly keep upgrading the event. Giving bull riders an opportunity to ride for an additional $10,000 on one bull just adds excitement to an already prestigious event.” Hedeman added, “CBR is all about the bull riders and making each and every event more profitable for a bull rider. Bull riders have a limited number of years they can compete so we try and give each guy a chance to earn more money.” Hedeman went on to add, “Having won the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding was an honor when my traveling partner Lane Frost and I were co-champions in 1986. I won the George Paul two more times, once in 1992 and again in 1996. It has and will always have a special meaning for me because it is where big time stand alone bull riding started. I produce the Tuff Hedeman Challenge in Ft Worth and it is the longest, continuous indoor bull riding in the world at 16 years old. Once again, I have the honor of being associated with the longest, continuous bull riding in the world which is outdoors. I am proud to be associated with Bobby and Bonnie Paul and the George Paul which combines the oldest, continuous indoor and outdoor bull ridings in the world”

Among the country’s top bull riders will be current CBR world champion Clayton Baethge and last year’s George Paul Champion Cooper Kanngiesser, just two of the notables who will enter the event. Last year 5 world champions competed in Del Rio and this year will once again feature only the top talent in professional bull riding. GAC(Great American County) TV will televise the contest to over 54 million households plus RFD and RFDHDTV will preview the Del Rio event to an additional 32 million viewers.

The office is open at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, phones are ringing, mail arriving daily and details involved in producing the event are underway. Bobby Paul fields questions minute by minute and makes dozens of decisions that are all part of producing the event named in honor of his late brother, George Paul. George, the 1968 RCA World Champion Bull Rider, the only man to ever ride 79 consecutive bulls in competition, was killed in a plane crash 15 miles from Kimmerer, WY, July 31, 1970. To honor his brother and his accomplishments, the Paul family began the annual bull riding in 1978.

Title sponsor for the event is Ram Country Dodge in Del Rio, TX with co-event sponsors Budweiser and Fred Loya Insurance. The 32nd George Paul Memorial Bull Riding will be held Saturday, May 2, at 7:00 PM and Sunday, May 3, at 3:00 PM. Ticket information can be found on the webs sites georgepaulmemorialbullriding.com and CBRbull.com or by calling the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding office at 775-9595 located at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds. Follow George Paul Memorial Bull Riding updates weekly. (By John Ludlum, 32nd George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. All rights reserved)