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Smooth ridin'
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| CHRIS WHITE/Lake City Reporter Alan Frierson, of O'Brien, tries to hold on Saturday at the 13th Annual Gateway Pro Rodeo on Saturday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. |
By CHRIS WHITE
cwhite@lakecityreporter.com
The 13th Annual Gateway Pro Rodeo finished its second of three nights of competition on Saturday, and it seemed to have it all.
“The food is good, the women are pretty and the beer is cold,” said eight-time PRCA Act of the Year John Payne.
Of course, there was
riding, too.
The stands were full at
the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Saturday night, and rodeo fans got a
little of everything - roping, racing, riding and even a little mock sumo wrestling between events, and the last decade the rodeo has been able to give the fans more and more each year.
“This is one of the biggest out there,” Jacksonville rider Nathan Mathews said. “This is one of the best in the
southeastern region, outside of one in Ocala.”
As the rodeo has grown and the ticket sales have expanded, so has the competition. Riders from across the southeast and from as far as Colorado made the trip, all vying for precious pro rodeo points and trips to the PRCA Finals in Las Vegas in December.
Before Saturday's finish, the field was fairly even, rider Jeremy Carpenter, of Gainesville, said.
“Right now, it's wide open,” he said. “Nobody's really gone ahead yet. But that will change.”
Riders had through Sunday to bring in the points and cash prizes - including an extra $100 for any cowboy or cowgirl who wins their event wearing a pink shirt - and it was obvious the crowd raised the intensity all night.
“The turnout has been great this year,” organizer Randy Jones said. “(Friday) it was a little low because of the weather, but tonight it's full and everyone seems to be having a good time.”
Even the response to organizers' plea for fans and riders to wear pink has been strong.
“We're just tickled with it,” Jones said.
While riders sweat it out for points and workers toiled to keep the event rolling smoothly, it was all fun for Payne, as he prepared for his act - corralling four steers onto the top of his trailer,
following them up on his
mustang and then tipping his hat while standing on the
saddle.
Payne, who was once
electrocuted with 7,200 volts and lay dead for five minutes all in the line of duty, summed up his act as just being part of the rodeo lifestyle.
“I travel around and get paid to do what I love to do,” he said. “I get to travel the pro circuit and just come out to the rodeo every night. How can you beat that?”
The rodeo begins at 2 p.m. today, and tickets are $13 at the door.
The 13th Annual Gateway Pro Rodeo finished its second of three nights of competition on Saturday, and it seemed to have it all.
“The food is good, the women are pretty and the beer is cold,” said eight-time PRCA Act of the Year John Payne.
Of course, there was
riding, too.
The stands were full at
the Columbia County Fairgrounds on Saturday night, and rodeo fans got a
little of everything - roping, racing, riding and even a little mock sumo wrestling between events, and the last decade the rodeo has been able to give the fans more and more each year.
“This is one of the biggest out there,” Jacksonville rider Nathan Mathews said. “This is one of the best in the
southeastern region, outside of one in Ocala.”
As the rodeo has grown and the ticket sales have expanded, so has the competition. Riders from across the southeast and from as far as Colorado made the trip, all vying for precious pro rodeo points and trips to the PRCA Finals in Las Vegas in December.
Before Saturday's finish, the field was fairly even, rider Jeremy Carpenter, of Gainesville, said.
“Right now, it's wide open,” he said. “Nobody's really gone ahead yet. But that will change.”
Riders had through Sunday to bring in the points and cash prizes - including an extra $100 for any cowboy or cowgirl who wins their event wearing a pink shirt - and it was obvious the crowd raised the intensity all night.
“The turnout has been great this year,” organizer Randy Jones said. “(Friday) it was a little low because of the weather, but tonight it's full and everyone seems to be having a good time.”
Even the response to organizers' plea for fans and riders to wear pink has been strong.
“We're just tickled with it,” Jones said.
While riders sweat it out for points and workers toiled to keep the event rolling smoothly, it was all fun for Payne, as he prepared for his act - corralling four steers onto the top of his trailer,
following them up on his
mustang and then tipping his hat while standing on the
saddle.
Payne, who was once
electrocuted with 7,200 volts and lay dead for five minutes all in the line of duty, summed up his act as just being part of the rodeo lifestyle.
“I travel around and get paid to do what I love to do,” he said. “I get to travel the pro circuit and just come out to the rodeo every night. How can you beat that?”
The rodeo begins at 2 p.m. today, and tickets are $13 at the door.
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