On the buck of a bull

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On the buck of a bull

EIGHT seconds. It doesn’t sound like a very long time to most people, but to 12 year old Kelsey Pavlou from Toora, it can seem like a lifetime.
Kelsey first became interested in rodeos and bull riding after attending the Stony Creek Rodeo a few years ago.
It was there he met one of the nation’s best steer wrestlers, Paul Kenny from Rosedale, and started training on the back of the bull.
“I started off riding steers at Paul’s property and in his arena and went to a few training days. My first rodeo was in 2011 at Glengarry,” Kelsey said.
“I rode in the junior steer ride, and I got bucked off.”
This didn’t deter Kelsey’s commitment to the sport and since then he has been competing regularly on the southern cross circuit, as well as in New South Wales.
“I don’t really do much training, before the rodeo season I go out and ride some steers. Most of the off-season is taken up with football,” he said.
“I play for the Corner Inlet Stingrays in the Under 13. We are in the grand final this year.”
The rodeo season starts in September, runs over summer and finishes at the end of May.
“I usually compete in between 20 and 30 rodeos across the season. The furthest one is eight hours away in Grong Grong, in New South Wales,” Kelsey said.
“There are a few local rodeos, including Sale, Lang Lang, Glengarry, Warragul and Stony Creek. Most of the events I compete in are in Victoria.”
Kelsey finished off last season in the Australia Professional Rodeo Association standings at number 21 in the junior steer section.
“In the Rodeo Services Australia standings, I finished the season in fifth place,” he said.
The APRA rankings are based on prize money earnings, which Kelsey said is harder to earn in the southern states.
“It is hard being in Victoria, because you have to work harder to win as much money as they do in the northern states,” he said.
“There is a lot more prize money on offer up there and a lot more rodeos on the calendar as well, including the biggest rodeo in Australia.
“This year, I want to finish in the top 10 in the APRA junior steer ride section, and am aiming to make the finals held in Queensland in May.”
Kelsey said there is no better way to get better at riding a bucking bull than practice.
“It takes a lot of focus. It is about getting to your peak and then trying harder the next time. Every rider has a different style so I always listen to their feedback,” he said.
“The rodeo community is very supportive.”
Kelsey has had a few career highlights so far, his favourite being the first time he spurred a steer.
“I didn’t get a place or anything, but it was the best ride I have ever done,” he said.
“Probably the best atmosphere for a rodeo was the Deniliquin Ute Muster last year. The crowd was so loud and they were all there to cheer for the rodeo.
“It is also great being a local rider at Stony Creek, a lot of people cheer for me there as well.”
Kelsey plans to continue riding in rodeos, and one day he hopes to make it his profession.
“I want to be a pro bull rider in America,” he said.

Rodeo rider: Toora’s Kelsey Pavlou is a keen bull rider, and one day wants to be riding the bucking beasts in America.

Rodeo rider: Toora’s Kelsey Pavlou is a keen bull rider, and one day wants to be riding the bucking beasts in America.

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Posted by on Aug 5 2014. Filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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