BATHURST bull rider Richard Treanor will head north to Tamworth this week where he will be aiming to clinch a national title in the Australian Bushmen Campdraft and Rodeo Association competition.
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The Australian Championships are a stand-alone event, but also double as the conclusion to the 2013 overall series.
Treanor has already done enough to clinch the organisation’s rookie of the year award through accumulated points.
His haul of more than $11,000 in prizemoney is also enough to put him on top of the overall standings, though he can still be knocked off top spot in that classification depending on what happens in Tamworth.
The quietly-spoken 23-year-old leaves today to try and seal the title.
“This is probably my fifth year or so since I started. It was just something that I always wanted to do when I was younger and eventually I got into it,” he said. “I started chasing rodeos around when I was 18 or so and started to get a feel for it that way.”
While Treanor admits that when he joined the current competition he did set himself a couple of goals, but winning or being in contention for the overall crown was not one of them.
His season began at the Oberon Rodeo last year, and since then he has been on or near the top of the pile.
“I’m leading the rookie, plus the national standings, and I certainly didn’t think I’d be in a position to lead the nationals,” he said.
“At the start I did make it a bit of a goal to win the rookie title, but anything on top of that is a bit of a surprise. I’ve basically been chasing rodeos all year, so it has been a lot of hard work.
“In terms of training and getting ready, I’m lucky enough to have a few blokes around here who are able to help me out and have taught me a lot. Matthew Besent has been one in particular who has taught me plenty.
“It depends on what level you’re riding at as to how much money you can make out of it, it varies from anywhere around $800 through to $2500 or more at the bigger rodeos. I wouldn’t mind having a go overseas one day.”
One of the perceptions of bull riding is that the contestants must be fearless, and almost reckless in their desire to not let go, no matter what happens.
With that in mind, Treanor says there isn’t a lot of specifics to concentrate on in the moments prior to going out the chute.
“I really don’t know what goes through my head at that stage. Absolutely nothing really, just hang on,” he said.