Bethpage-Tribune_1988-08-11

              BETHPAGE «BB«fato I'Ute
Island Trees Plainedge
also serving
Seaford Old Bethpage Plainview
VOL. 21 NO. 42 AUGUST 11-17,1988 20 CENTS
ucking bron­cos,
kicking
bulls and riding
cowboys! These
are the images
that come to
mind when the word rodeo is heard.
Now for the first time in more than 20
years Long Islanders will not only be
hearing a lot about this truly Ameri­can
sport, but the International Pro­fessional
Rodeo Association will be
bringing its champions to Long Island
to compete in the "Championship
Competition Rodeo". If you have
never witnessed an authentic Rodeo,
don't miss this wild west tradition,
which will beheld Saturday & Sunday
of Labor Day weekend at Suffolk
Meaduws on Yapharrk. -
The ulitimate goal of every cow­boys
career is to win a World Cham­pionship.
The International Pro
Rodeo Association offers that oppor­tunity
with world championship
competition in bareback bronc riding,
saddle bronc riding, bull riding, cow­girls'
barrel racing, steer wrestling,
calf roping and team roping.
For wild, unpredictable action,
"bareback bronc riding" heads the
list. In this event, a cowboy tries to
stay aboard a high jumping, hard
bucking, twisting horse by holding
onto a handhold on a leather "riggin"
around the animal. The rodeo compe­tition
is fierce; theVodeo athlete must
ride the wildly bucking animal for
eight seconds.
Other competitive events include
"steer wrestling", originally called
"buUdogging." Known as the he-man
event in rodeo, this longtime popular
rodeo contest is definitely a man-sized
job. BuUdogging calls on all the cow­boy's
muscle power, raw courage and
determination to jump from the back
of a running horseto the back of a 700
pound steer, and then wrestle this
incredibly strong animal to the
ground in, a matter of seconds!
Sounds impossible? Well seeing is
I believing and there will be lots of
opportunities for seeing bulldoggers
in action this September 3rd and 4th!
"The most dangerous sport in
America!" That is what the sports wri­ters
of America voted "bull riding" a
few years ago. This rodeo event poses
more outright danger to the contest­ant
than any other sport in the nation!
Bull riding pits man against beast as a
I
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Ride 'em Cowboy! Come cheer on the IPRA Cowboys as they compete at the authentic "Championship Competition
Rodeo" scheduled at Suffolk Meadows on Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Ticket info: (516) 567-5898.
cowboy who may weigh as little as 140
pounds struggles to stay on top of a
ton of angry, twisting, bucking bull.
Bull riding is just another of several
exciting events featured at the "IPRA
Championship Competition Rodeo"
at Suffolk Meadows.
Although these single event cham­pionships
are much sought after and
hard earned, the "All Around •cham­pionship"
takes center stage as most
prestigious. In order to win this
coveted title, a cowboy must win
money in more than one event, a diffi­cult
feat in today's age of specializa­tion.
Watch for the top International
Pro Rodeo Association cowboys and
cowgirls at the "Championship Com­petition
Rodeo and Fair" on Labor
Day weekend. They will be competing
for prize money, with money won here
counting toward the IPRA cham­pionship
year-end awards.
All rodeo contestants must be in
good physical condition, but there is
hardly a man in the arena who is a
better athlete than .the rodeo clown,
Keith Isley from South Carolina. In
order to stay close to the bucking
bulls, the clown/bullfighter must run
almost continuously during the bull
riding event. Not only running, but
twisting, jumping, spinning and some­times
performing amazing acrobatic
tricks, Keith leads the charging bull
away from the thrown rider. In addi­tion
to the serious business of putting
his life between a fallen bull rider and
a ton of angry, man-hating bull, this
painted performer in baggy pants also
does what clowns throughout the
years have always done: he entertains
and amuses the audience with comical
antics and jokes.
In addition to the competitive
events, the IPRA Rodeo has the finest
western style entertainment with
something for everyonc.l'he audience
will be dazzeled by roman rider,
George Meek, as he stands on the
backs of his two salt and pepper quar­ter
horses performing dare devil rid­ing
stunts cowboy style. Melanie Isley
will delight the crowd with her color­ful
fancy riding act. Also featured will
be Lenore Rowe of Tennessee and her
performing horses "Spanish Dancer"
and "Imperial Star", imperial Star, a
majestic black quarter horse has been
exclusively trained by Lenore to jump
over unbelievable heights, such as
over the backs of two horses standing
side by side and then over the bed of a
pick up truck.
Circle September 3rd and 4th on
your calendar and get ready for som
wild rodeo action. The fair opens at
noon and the Rodeo competition
starts at 2:00 PM on both Saturday
and Sunday. Tickets may be pur­chased
at the gate. For advanced or
group sales call: (516) 567-5898. Adult
tickets are S9.00artd children under 12
years tickets are S5.00 Suffolk Mea­dows
(formerly Parr Meadows Race­track)
William Floyd Parkway,
Yaphank, is easy to reach. Take the
Long Island Expressway to Exit 68
North for '4 mile and feel the excite­ment
of the wild west.