Saturday, January 24, 2009

LONESTAR RODEO-SALISBURY, MD (January 24, 2008)

A horse is helped up after a run during the Lone Star Rodeo at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Friday. (Megan Raymond photo)
January 24, 2009
Rodeo rides into town
Visitors come to watch bull and bareback riding, barrel racing, clowns
By Earl Holland, Staff Writer
SALISBURY -- The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center's Normandy Arena was transformed into Texas on Friday as riders from the East Coast were pitted against some of the toughest bulls and broncos.
The Lone Star Rodeo Company's Still Standing Tour was in full gear as the cowboys and rodeo clowns in the show looked to wow the first of two crowds this weekend.
The show -- which also features bareback riding, rodeo clowns, barrel racing and a best-dressed cowboy and cowgirl contest during Friday's intermission -- will have one more show tonight.
Tim Stenger of Berlin, who was attending his first-ever rodeo, said he decided to come to the show because his friends wanted to. As the show progressed, his interest started to peak.
"It's like a man vs. beast-type of situation," he said. "The broncos are interesting because it's a little more fast-paced, but the bull riding is my favorite."
The Lone Star Rodeo, which is family-run, travels from Maryland to Florida and has held shows at the Civic Center for a decade.
Kristen Conn of the Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism department said what makes the rodeo special is a variety of reasons.
"It's one of the nicest events because it's one of our more affordable shows," she said. "It's also pretty exciting because it allows people to see a lot of animals like this unless you live in areas like that."
Erin Pearce of Pocomoke City attended the show with her family said she was also fascinated with the bull riding.
"It's interesting to see how long the riders can stay on before falling off," she said. "I don't know how the riders do, but I wouldn't."
Stenger said that after watching the competitors, he feels he could hold his own on the as a bull or bronco rider.
"I would love to do something that," he said. "Maybe they could incorporate that into next year's show."
eholland@dmg.gannett.com
from the Salisbury, MD Daily Times 01/24/09

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