Annual rodeo returns to Walterboro

Published Thu, May 1, 2008 12:00 AM

The Beaufort Gazette

WALTERBORO -- Some of the country's top ropers and riders will return to the Lowcountry this weekend for the annual rodeo at Double D Arena in Walterboro.

The International Professional Rodeo Association event starts at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and will feature bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronco riding, calf roping, cowgirl barrel racing, team roping and bull riding.

"It's going to be a great rodeo," director Tommie Derry said. "It's the only IRPA rodeo within 100 miles of Beaufort. You'll see competitors from all over the United States here competing and they're all professionals."

The rodeo has grown significantly in its 19 years. It started with just 2,500 spectators in 1989. This year, more than 12,000 are expected. Derry credits the rodeo's growing popularity to its family-friendly atmosphere.

It's alcohol-free, and on Friday, two children 12 and younger get in free with the purchase of each adult ticket ($15).

"It's wholesome entertainment the entire family can enjoy," Derry said. "It's three or four hours you can spend having fun with your children where you don't have to worry about somebody acting inappropriate."

The first event of the night will be bareback riding. Each rider will attempt to ride a bucking horse for eight seconds without touching the animal with one hand.

The second event will be steer wrestling, where a cowboy leaps from a horse at full gallop and takes a running steer to the ground.

The third event is saddle bronco riding, where riders attempts to hang on to a saddled horse for eight seconds. It will be followed by calf roping, where participants lasso a running calf from horseback, dismount and then tie three of its legs together. The fastest time wins.

The fifth event will be cowgirl barrel racing. Riders will navigate a three-barrel cloverleaf pattern on horseback, using tight turns and short bursts of speed trying to earn the fastest time.

The sixth event will be team roping, where two riders team up to lasso a steer as quickly as possible.

The final event -- bull riding -- is the most popular. Using only one hand, riders attempt to stay on the backs of huge bulls for eight seconds. Judges score performances to determine the winner.

"Everybody loves to watch the bull riding," Derry said. "It's man against beast. It takes a lot of guts."

Entertainment each night will be provided by Jerry Olsen, who puts on a show with his trained horse. Advance tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Prices the day of the rodeo are $15 for adults and $12 for children. Gates open at 6 p.m. each night.

For more information, go online to www.doubledarena.com or call 843-893-3894.

Details

What: Walterboro Rodeo

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Double D Arena, Walterboro

Tickets: 843-893-3894

Rough riding'

Top riders struggle on final day of Walterboro Rodeo

Published Sun, May 4, 2008 12:00 AM

BY BUDDY HUGHES

WALTERBORO -- Even the best bull riders have a bad day.

Lee Busque came into the Walterboro Rodeo as the No. 1-ranked bull rider in the world according to the International Professional Rodeo Association standings. That didn't help him at all when he mounted his bull Saturday.

Busque was knocked off his bull fairly quickly.

"I just didn't have a good night," Busque said. "It happens to the best of us."

He wasn't the only one. All of the bull riders had trouble staying on their charges with the exception of Travis Finley.

Finley was able to get into the money with his ride, posting a 71 to knock first-day participant Dustin Jackelin out. Andrew Seither's first-day run of 81 proved to be too big of a mountain to climb for the other bull riders. Chris Prangle finished second on the strength of his first-day run of 76.

Only four cowboys left with times as the bulls definitely one this round on the rodeo circuit.

"It was a pretty good pen," bull rider Shane Huneycutt said. "They certainly did their job."

Cowboys who participated Friday set the mark high in a lot of categories.

Nobody was able to catch Justin Thigpen in the calf roping or steer wrestling events. Thigpen's times of 9.3 seconds in the calf roping and 4.2 seconds in the steer wrestling proved to be enough.

None of Saturday's participants were able to crack the top 3 in the steer wrestling, meaning Donnie Tyner and Austin Stewart finished in the money in second and third respectively.

Two of Saturday's calf ropers finished behind Thigpen. Allen Livengood took second with a time of 11.5 seconds while Lee Elsworth edged another competitor by one-tenths with his 12.7 run.

Saturday did see a new barrel racer take the top prize. Robin Williamson edged Laurie Kerley's Friday time by three one-thousandths of a second (15.551 to 15.554) for the top slot. Kelsey Davis settled for third with her Friday time of 15.630.

In the team roping, Cory Kidd and Adam Blyer's first-day time of 5 seconds held up while Jared Cook's 75on Friday in the bareback bronc competition was enough for the win.

Gettin' down and dirty

Thigpen sets bar high during first day of Walterboro Rodeo

Published Sat, May 3, 2008 12:00 AM

By BUDDY HUGHES

WALTERBORO - It didn't take too long for Justin Thigpen to show why he's a world-class cowboy, 13.5 seconds to be exact. That's the combined time it took for Thigpen to wrestle a steer (4.2 seconds) and rope a calf (9.3) to give him the lead in both events going into tonight's finals.

Thigpen set the bar high in the steer wrestling, where the object is to jump from a horse, grab a steer around its head and wrestle it to the ground with all four legs in the air. The second competitor out, Thigpen's time of 4.2 turned out to be two seconds better than second place.

The calf roping proved to be an easier time for Thigpen with only one of the other participant able to log an official time.

"Any time you leave in first (place), it's been a good night," Thigpen said.

Thigpen is a veteran of the Walterboro Rodeo, having participated in the event "three or four" times. The rodeo's staff and the fans are two of the things that keep bringing him back.

"It's a great rodeo," Thigpen said.

While the fans definitely enjoyed Thigpen's performances, the biggest roars came during the bull riding event, where cowboys try to stay on a bucking bull for eight seconds.

The bulls won the first round Friday with only three riders able to stay on for the full eight seconds.

Andrew Seither stayed on his bull, Copperhead, foro the entire ride and impressed the judges enough for an 81 out of a possible 100 for the first-day lead.

Chris Prangle follows him in second after posting a 76 and Dustin Jackelin is in third with a 70.

Jackelin had to get a re-ride after his bull stalled at the gate. He took advantage with a solid run.

"He was a lot better," Jackelin said of the second bull he rode. "He was nice from the start."

In the other competitions, Laurie Kerley holds a slim lead in the barrel racing, completeing the course in 15.554 seconds. Just a fraction behind her was Kelsey Davis with a 15.636 and Tammy Daniels with a 15.890.

The duo of Cory Kidd and Adam Blyer lead the team roping after roping their calf in 5 seconds flat, almost eight seconds better than the team of Caleb Anderson and Jason Tucker.

Jared Cook leads the bareback bronc riding after posting a 75.

The rodeo continues today at 8 p.m. at the Double D Arena in Walterboro. Gates open at 6 p.m.