Professional bull riding coming to Tasmania

Bulls that are bred for one job only and riders that must have a little bit of crazy in their genetics will thrill a Tasmanian crowd when the first ever professional indoor bull ride is held on October 4 at Launceston Silverdome.

Island Stampede – Riding for a Cause is the realisation of a long-held dream for former bull rider and the owner of Westbury stock feed business Barunah, Chris Dornauf, and Port Sorell horse breaker Kyle Maskiell.

Kyle is still competing on the rodeo circuit intermittently and has thrown his cowboy hat in the ring as one of two locals taking on the biggest names in the country, along with the reigning Tasmanian bull ride champion Josh Clark, also from Penguin.

Riders who have signed up for the event, which will carry a $15,000 prize pool, include Clint Glass from Tamworth, NSW, Sam Woodhall from Heywood, Victoria, Danny Rogan from Upper Horton, NSW and even a Kiwi is making the trip over with two-time Profession Bull Riding (PBR) title winner Frazer Babbington from New Zealand adding some trans-Tasman rivalry.

Money raised from the event will go to the Launceston General Hospital 4K Children’s Ward Auxiliary.

Kyle said that riders will have to try to stick on some of the country’s most notorious bulls, including CTC Knuckledusters Mini Delux, who is top contender for Australian Bucking Bull of the Year.

“There have been 48 of the best cowboys in the country try to last eight seconds on him and every single one has failed,” Kyle said.

“These are the kind of big bulls that you don’t get here in Tasmania anymore, not since the likes of Chainsaw were doing the rounds – they lead a life of absolute luxury and they’re gentle giants, but they know their job and how to turn it on for the crowd.”

Kyle, who grew up in Longford, started out in rodeo riding steers when he was 12 years of age, and then later changed tack to become a jokey, eventually riding for Darren Weir in Victoria.

However the excitement of rodeo lured him back, and he became a full-time professional bull rider.

At the peak of his career in 2019 he came second at the Australian Professional Riders Association Australian Titles.

These days it’s more of a hobby and he’s back in the racing industry, breaking and pre-training thoroughbreds.

Chris was an up-and-coming junior bull rider who went on to win an Open Bull Ride in Tasmania before having a stint on the national circuit.

A workplace accident where his arm was stuck in a potato harvester for six hours resulted in a departure from the sport and a series of more than 20 surgeries.

“I did ride again – it wasn’t my dominant hand that was injured – but that was a while ago now and I’d rather watch the action from the sidelines these days,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted to bring that same excitement, thrills and high-energy entertainment of professional bull rides that is so popular in America and interstate, to Tasmania.

“It’s going to be a full night of action, with music, lights and feature events and just great fun for the whole family.”

Riders who have signed up for the event, which will carry a $15,000 prize pool, include Clint Glass from Tamworth, NSW, Sam Woodhall from Heywood, Victoria, Danny Rogan from Upper Horton, NSW and even a Kiwi is making the trip over with two-time Profession Bull Riding (PBR) title winner Frazer Babbington from New Zealand adding some trans-Atlantic rivalry.

Bulls from Bennett Ranch and Diamond A Cattle will travel on the boat from Victoria and PBR CEO Glen Young will be keeping a close eye on the event to see if it could become a regular addition to the national calendar.

Tickets will be $65 and go on sale in coming weeks through Ticketek.