Carroll cowboys try their luck at the ‘Battle of the Beast’
Armed with a flat braided rope, riding gloves, spurs and a protective vest, cowboys at the J Bar W Ranch in Union Bridge, Md., engage in one of rodeo’s most dangerous events: bull riding. Riders attempt to stay on a bucking bull for eight seconds without touching it with their free hands, as the animal jumps, twists and turns.
- Michael Wynkoop, 5, of Smithsburg, Md., plays with a stick horse before the bull riding event. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Devon Weaver of Portage, Pa., stretches out prior to the bull riding competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- A cowboy wears a trophy belt buckle. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- As is the custom, the bull riding cowboys say a prayer together during the opening ceremonies. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Jay Peachey holds on tight as the bull he is on tries to jump out of the chute as he prepares for his ride. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cole “Twister” Trivette from Kansas gets ready for his bull ride. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Michael Wynkoop, 5, of Smithsburg, Md. rides a mechanical bull with the help of professional bull rider Robert Carter, right. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Nick Proud of Union Bridge, Md., has trouble freeing his hand from the rope as he falls off the bull he was riding. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Nick Proud of Union Bridge, Md., has trouble freeing his hand from the rope as he falls off the bull he was riding. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Nick Proud of Union Bridge, Md., hits the ground after falling off the bull he was riding. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Robert Carter wraps tape around his wrists as he prepares for the bull riding competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Amber Goff, of Westminster, Md., is a barrel racer. She is pictured with her horse, Daisy. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Alton Whitted of Perryville, Va., gets ready for the bull riding competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Natalie Vora, 7, of Ijamsville, Md., hangs on during the mutton busting event. Contestants must be at least four years old and weigh below 50 pounds to compete. They hang on to the sheep for a qualifying time of six seconds and then they are given a score. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Nick Proud of Union Bridge, Md., talks with a fellow rider before the competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Garret Curland of Bloomsburg, Pa., looks for the bull he will be riding in the competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Shane Stiffler waits for his second ride of the competition. Stiffler finished with the best score of the day. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Jay Peachey is thrown from a bull during the competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Cowboy Kyle Andrews rides his bull during the competition. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- Shane Stiffler rides a bull during his winning ride. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
- As the competition continues after dark, lightning strikes in the distance, lighting up the sky. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)
The family-operated ranch hosts the “Battle of the Beast” bull-riding series, a sanctioned International Bull Riders event. The summer series runs the first and third Saturday nights from June through the series finals on September 7. Competing cowboys are awarded points throughout the events, and the rider with the greatest total is crowned the series champion.
Along with bull riding, the crowd gets to watch cowgirls barrel racing, bull hockey and mutton busting. In the last, a crowd favorite, the rider grabs hold of a sheep’s wool and attempts to ride it for six seconds. Contestants must be at least four years old and weigh under 50 pounds.
Zaphod Beeblebrox
Jul 28, 2013 @ 23:57:29
Did Borat sing the Star Spangled Banner at this one?