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Tuff Hedeman Brings Championship Bull Riding Back to the Super Bull

40th George Paul Memorial Bull Riding

DEL RIO, Texas (March 16, 2017) – Stuff your bull riding fans’ Easter Eggs with tickets and plan now to join Tuff Hedeman, Bobby Paul and the boys as they celebrate the 40th George Paul Memorial Bull Riding at the Val Verde Fairgrounds in Del Rio, Texas on April 28 – 29 at 8 pm.

You will not want to miss this year’s extravaganza and the opportunity to cheer on the number one bull rider in the world, five time World Champion Sage Steele Kimzey of Strong City, Oka. Kimzey who recently passed the two million dollar mark in total bull riding earnings, will attempt to win the George Paul Memorial hand crafted Juan Jose Muñoz Andrade buckle that is the exact replica of the previous 39 buckles awarded since the event began.

Described by Tuff Hedeman as an athlete that will be recorded in history as the best bull rider of his generation, Sage Kimzey will make his fourth appearance in Del Rio. In 2016 Kimzey rode Rhon Brown’s Big Lew, to win the first performance on night one of the event, but the GPBMR title and the one of a kind Del Rio championship buckle has eluded Kimzey since turning pro in 2014.

Challenging Kimzey will be a stellar roster of multiple World Champions including the number two man in the CBR World Standings, Eli Vastbinder of Statesville, North Carolina, who will be challenged by multiple National Finals Rodeo qualifiers and a hefty list of red hot rookies that will make up the field of 24 elite bull riders from the top professional tours.

Dominate since Day 1, the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding moves into its 40th year celebration in April with two evening performances both starting at 8:00 pm.

For every new face you will see in the arena there are dozens of familiar ones that will return to Del Rio to try and ride their way to the prestigious title that is known as the birthplace of stand-alone bull riding.

Tickets on sale now for the GPMBR at several locations in Del Rio and at the box office at the Val Verde Fairground. (Address below)

CBR Famous Energy Bullfighters, Matt Baldwin, Brandon Loden, and Bryce Redo, and great family entertainment from barrel man Hippy Engelkes assures bull riding fans an enjoyable two hour adrenaline rush show.

“It’s a combination of a great rock and roll concert and a heavy weight prize fight and refereed by Tuff Hedeman,” said CBR Chief Executive Officer Benny Cude.

The George Paul Memorial Bull Riding is the last regular season event on the CBR’s Road to Cheyenne tour and features a 24 man three round tournament style event ending in a final four Shoot Out round worth $30,000.

From established veterans to rookies, the vast majority of the cowboy athletes attending the GPMBR have been on the roster before. In the coming weeks, the CBR will preview several of the top bull riding athletes, analyzing where they’ve been and where they’re going and what a win in Del Rio would mean to them and their season.

Hedeman, the four time World Champion, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer and former GPMBR Champion, will be the chute boss and commentating for the Fox Sports broadcast and he will be making his way around town with the several of the super star bull riders signing autographs and hosting meet and greets at local establishments. A schedule of personal appearances will be released at a later date.

Location: Val Verde County Fairgrounds, 2006 N. Main St., Del Rio, Texas

Mailing Address: GPMBR P. O. Box 421133 Del Rio, TX 78842

Websites: George Paul Memorial Bull Riding; Championship Bull Riding

Date: April 28 and 29, 2017 – 8 PM

Ticketing Link – GPMBR accepts Credit and Debit cards by phone (830-775-9595) and in the office. Office Hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Gen. Admission Tickets Also Available at these Del Rio locations: Cowboy John’s, 611 East Gibbs; C&S Western Wear, 2200 Veterans Blvd.

For interviews, photos, press credentials and more information please contact Leigh Ann Schroeder 940.902.1112 or leighann@theshortround.com.

About the George Paul
The airplane crash that took the life of George Paul ended what could have been the greatest bull riding career in all of professional rodeo. Don Gay, eight-time world champion bull rider said the greatest natural bull rider of all time was George Paul. George is gone but the things he stood for…the things he is remembered for, death could never kill. His legacy is the formation of the multi-million dollar sport of professional bull riding as a stand-alone sport. The longest continuous stand-alone bull riding in the world, the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding. Winning and placing at the greatest percentage of rodeos he entered, George went to the 1968 NFR with the RCA bull riding world championship locked up. That was not good enough for George because entering the 1968 NFR George had done what no other bull rider had ever done. George had successfully ridden 79 bulls in a row. It was like getting 79 knockouts in a row. They are not just animals, they are combatants, and George rode for eight seconds, 79 of the toughest bulls professional rodeo had to offer in a row. That feat has never been duplicated, nor even come close to. The first bull of the 1968 National Finals Rodeo, Cowtown, ended George’s string of successful rides at 79 (world record) however, he went on to successfully ride the remaining eight bulls which also tied the record of the NFR, and won not only a world championship but, the NFR average as well. The last bull George had at the 1968 NFR was Butler Brothers # 27, George conquered the bull in short order and scored 87 points, the highest marked ride at the 1968 NFR. Bull riders then would tell you a world championship in bull riding is the most prestigious title you can win. The second is the National Finals Rodeo. In 1969 George elected to stay close to home in order to help with his family’s one million acre ranch in Mexico but, in 1970, the lure of the rodeo road called once again and he answered that call. On August 1, 1970, near the southwestern Wyoming town of Kemmerer, a rancher discovered the wreckage of George’s plane 300 feet short of the top of Commissary Ridge. George had been traveling between rodeos when the plane crash occurred.

Courtesy of CBR

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