WHEN the Moreton Border News spoke with Lucas Taylor he wasn’t happy because a technical detail knocked him out of the Open Section at this year’s Warwick Gold Cup.
“They wouldn’t let me compete in the rodeo’s open [category] so I decided not to go,” the Rosewood teenager said.
“I turned 18 during the event but wasn’t allowed to enter in the open section because I wasn’t 18 when it started.”
The Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campcraft is a prestigious annual event, which was held at the Warwick Showgrounds from October 20 to 26.
Had he competed, he would have been one of the youngest competitors and competing in a category with a rider 60 years his senior.
While the outcome was unfortunate, it was hardly a make or break for the talented bull rider.
Lucas represented Australia at the Yeti Junior World final in Las Vegas, USA in 2023.
He also qualified for the Youth Bull Riders World Final that was held in Texas, USA.
Back then he was a student at Laidley State High School and focused on his agricultural studies.
He now works as a concreter.
Lucas’ introduction to the sport happened through his father who is also an accomplished bull rider.
Kids keen on being part of the bull riding scene compete from as young as five or six years old, riding ‘poddy calves’ or calves that have been hand raised.
“I’ve won under-15 bull rider titles, three junior bull rider titles, a novice bull rider title, an open bull rider title as well as Rookie of the Year,” he explained.
“Those are the ones in South East Queensland and I have been riding in the open section under the National Rodeo Association, since last year.
“You don’t have to be 18 to ride in the open section with the NRA but the Warwick [Gold Cup] is under the Australian Pro Rodeo Association and you have to be 18.”
To perfect his skill, Lucas practices with his friends Gabe Wood and Tara Warburton at their property.
He said in his first year of competing he gained the fourth place position in the top 12 for the National Rodeo Association.
“I knew that rodeos were my passion from the moment I started bull riding and 2019 was a memorable year for me, because I placed in nearly every rodeo competition that I competed in,” he said.
“An incident at the Calliope annual rodeo resulted in several stiches after I was stood on by a bull … that saw me take some time off because the injury didn’t heal as quickly as I would have liked it too.
“I had to take two months off which was challenging, but once the injury healed, I was cleared to ride again just in time for the finals.”
Lucas held his spot and finished fourth.
The big dream is to make a career for himself in the United States.
“The difference is also in the quality of bulls and the money,” he said.
“In the states you can bull ride as a job and sustain a lifestyle riding during the week.
“It’s not that way in Australia but regardless, you are still doing a sport that you love.”
Ultimately, he’d like to compete in the Cheyenne Frontier Days which is known as the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. It is held in the USA.
