By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It’s an event uniquely Del Rio, and it returns this weekend come rain or shine.
The 44th George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bulls Bull Riding takes place Friday and Saturday at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds with some of the best bull riders from around the world battling it out for big money, bragging rights and the champion’s buckle that has been claimed by legends of the sport.
The two-night event begins at 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
Last year it was 19-year-old T.J. Gray from Dairy, Oregon, who walked away as champion after being the only rider to cover both his bulls. Gray not only earned more than $8,000 for the win, he also won a custom belt buckle that carries more than just a price tag, but is a badge of honor for any professional bull rider.
“Everyone knows what the George Paul is. I’ve never been here, not to watch or nothing. I mean we were really excited to come here, though. It’s the George Paul Memorial. It’s Del Rio so we were really excited,” Gray said following his win. “This is the top for sure. I have not won a big rodeo yet. I mean nothing legendary at all. This is really exciting, a really big accomplishment!”
The event is named in honor of former world champion bull rider, and Del Rio native, George Paul. Paul, who was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, won the 1968 Rodeo Cowboys Association’s bull riding world championship, capping his season by riding eight of nine bulls at the National Finals Rodeo.
That year, Paul went from being a rodeo star to becoming a bull riding legend as he notched 79 consecutive successful bull rides. The streak ended when he was bucked off his first bull at that year’s NFR, but no rider has ever come close to Paul’s own “Iron Man” streak.
He was killed in an airplane crash in 1970, but his memory lives on through the annual bull riding event produced by his brother, Bobby Paul.
The top riders in the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls division are expected to compete this weekend, but who will be crowned champion is anyone’s guess. The leading money winner on the tour right now is Josh Frost of Randlett, Utah. Currently ranked second in the world in bull riding with more than $100,000 earned this season, Frost may have the most famous connection to the George Paul of any other rider.
According to his official PRCA biography, Frost is the second-cousin of the late Lane Frost, a two-time George Paul champion, former world champion and the subject of the film, “8 Seconds,” which was partially filmed in Del Rio at the George Paul event in 1993.
Stetson Wright, of Milford, Utah, is ranked second with more than $24,000 won on the Xtreme Bulls tour so far this year. Rounding out the top five are Tyler Taylor of Stephenville ($18,094.98), Grayson Cole of Fredonia, Pa. ($15,398.68) and Trey Kimzey of Strong City, Okla. ($13,745.65).
Tickets for the event are on sale at the bull riding office located under the grandstands. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Call 830-775-9595 for more information. General admission tickets can also be purchased at C&S Western Wear, 2200 Veterans Blvd.; Cowboy John’s, 611 E. Gibbs; or at the gate. Those tickets are cash only at those locations.
You can also visit georgepaulmemorialbullriding.com, for more information.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
