Blog
June 24, 2008 Africa Report
When I last checked in I was getting ready
to head to Africa for a one-of-a-kind roughstock event that bareback rider Chris
Harris asked me to participate in. We left on June 11 and flew from Dallas to
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and then on to Luanda, Angola, Africa. It was a long
trip, the longest flight I have ever been on. We were met by some of the
committee members and they took us to Calulo where we would stay and where the
event would take place.
Let me take a minute
to give you a few more details per Chris Harris on how this all came to be. For
those who don’t know Chris is a five-time NFR qualifier in the bareback riding
and he has been raising some bucking horses. Anyway, a guy by the name of Pedro
Torres works for Chris and Pedro became friends with a guy by the name of Mr.
Henrique Prata, who owns a cancer hospital down in Brazil. Anyway Mr. Prata came
to the 2007 NFR and after it was over went back to Chris’ place and bought 42
head of horses from him and shipped them to Brazil. From there they left the
older better horses and shipped the young horses to Africa for this roughstock
event. These horses that we were getting on had never been bucked, so that was a
little interesting and fun all at the same time. So as a result of all this,
they asked Chris to come and bring a couple other guys with him. He asked me and
then a bareback rider from Canada by the name of Roger Lacasse.
I have to admit it
was a little nerve wracking going over there not really knowing what to expect.
The committee people were great and it was fun getting to know the other
contestants from Brazil. A guy by the name of Mr. Reinaldo Vieira from Angola
was one of the committee members that helped Mr. Prata put this event on and
they were very accommodating. There were seven in each event – bareback, saddle
bronc and bull riding – and we were the only non-Brazilian cowboys in
attendance. We competed in two rounds and a short. The top spot paid $30,000 and
second was $25,000. I am happy to report that both Chris and I came home
victorious.
The first performance
the crowd wasn’t too sure about us cowboys from America but they were having
trouble getting a horse out of the arena, so I jumped on a saddle horse and
grabbed a rope and roped him. After I did that, they thought I was the best
cowboy in the land and cheered loud for me. So not only was I a competitor but I
did a little pickup man work as well. It was a lot of fun and something I don’t
get to do a lot of.
This was the first
time they had ever brought the sport of rodeo to Africa and those people just
loved it. The stands around the arena, which they built just for this reason,
held about 5,000 or so but behind the stands in another area they had a big
screen showing the action and there must have been some 20,000 people there. It
was unreal.
The people that
helped put this event on are also the ones involved in the big rodeo that is put
on each year in the small town of Barretos, which is tucked in the interior of
the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is estimated that each year that rodeo sees
about 80,000 a day for 10 days, which is unreal to me but the folks we met and
worked with do a great job.
When we left they
were talking that they wanted to do another event with the same people at the
end of August, but this time in the capital of Angola, which is Luanda. That is
the place we flew into. So we will see if they get it together and I might be
going back there in a couple months. This time it will be easier as we know a
little more of what to expect.
This was the first
time for Chris and I to go overseas like that and it definitely gave us a new
appreciation for things in life. The people of Africa didn’t have all the
luxuries that we do but they were as happy if not happier people than some
Americans and they work extremely hard, day in and day out. It was a great
experience for me and one I will remember for the rest of my life. I will try
to have some photos posted in my photo gallery of our trip in the next few days
so be sure and check that out.
We got back on
Friday, June 20 and then I was in Reno, Nev., on Sunday, June 22. I scored 82
points on my first one but didn’t have such good luck in the second round, so I
didn’t make it back to the short round. The fourth of July and busy summer run
is upon us and right now we are planning to hit at least 14 rodeos between June
26 and July 20. My schedule should be updated so take a look at that to see
where we are planning on being.
I will be heading
back to Calgary the first part of July to try and defend my title there so wish
me luck and I will try and keep you posted on that. Hope everyone is enjoying
your summer and thanks for reading and visiting my site.
Cody
Archived
Blogs:
June 4
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July 9
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15 /
August 1
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August 27
September17
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October1 / March 18 /
May 30
