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Local rider gets The Southern Stampede of to a great start

By Dan Hoyt, For The Southern

Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:30 AM CST

DU QUOIN - When the first rider out of the gate scores an 85, it's going to be a great night.

When that rider happens to be a local man, the night couldn't be any better.

"I've got a few of my family members here, and they pump you up," said Makanda resident Clayton Mayer.

Mayer was competing in this weekend's Southern Stampede on the grounds of the Du Quoin State Fair and said the first rider out of the gate doesn't always do that well.

"Most of the time they don't have anything to compare a rider to," Mayer said, "so you usually score pretty low."

But Mayer said he felt "real good" about the ride, and the judges agreed.

"I'm tickled to death about that run and thankful that God got me out of there safe," he said.

Too bad you don't get extra points for getting dragged behind your bull. Steve Koelm from Altamont was happy that his boot came off, and his ride ended early.

"I was glad when I made it over the fence," Koelm said.

He hadn't been able to compete in a few months, and while a 73 might not carry him to the finals, it was a good run.

The Southern Stampede was a great venue to have it at.

Rodney Hayes - "The Texas Kid" - brought a little twist to bull riding. His specialty act involved riding a trained Brazilian Gir bull. Hayes said it's a bull, not a steer and, while riding it might appear to be a daunting task, Hayes said it's just like training a horse except that it takes more time to train one.

"They're a lot more athletic than our cattle, with a lot more legs," he said.

Ashley Fisher was excited to compete in barrel racing.

The Goreville High School senior was ready to get her rodeo season started. She said high school rodeo doesn't start until April, and this was a great opportunity to get out and warm up.

Before her run she said she was worried about the second barrel closest to the audience.

"My horse is a little young, and she'll get a little scared that close to the crowd," she said.

Unfortunately, it was a self-fulfilling prophesy. As she began to round the second barrel, her horse, Moon, spooked just enough to lose her footing on the wet patch of dirt around the barrel.

Fisher caught the horse and calmed her before finishing the run.

"She'll get a little more experienced when she gets older, and I'll be back," Fisher said.