RODEO
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Bulls aren't commonly seen roaming the streets of Sydney's inner west so the story of how Balmain boy "Big Al" Wilson became Australia's best rodeo clown is quite incredible.
Al first hopped on a bull as a teenager when the tragic death of a friend prompted his family to take him on a holiday.
The rodeo just happened to be in town and Big Al found himself astride a bucking bull for the first time in his life.
"I grew up around Balmain and was your typical Sydney boy," Wilson said. "I was 18 and went on a family holiday and there was just a rodeo that happened to be on in Batemans Bay.
"Back in those days anyone could just go pay their day membership and have a ride. I paid up and got on a bull and I got thrown off of course, but I made some friends that day - some professional cowboys from Penrith.
"They gave me the opportunity to go out there and they'd teach me how to ride bulls."
It was no easy task as Wilson was working on Cockatoo Island as a rigger and had to regularly dash out west in the dying light for the opportunity of spending the last few hours of daylight riding bulls.
A year later he won his first Australian title in 1984 as a rookie. He went on to qualify for seven national finals and was a top-five rider through the '80s until a serious head injury ended his professional riding career.
"There comes a time you've got to give bull riding away. I was 36-37 at the time," he said.
"A few years lapsed. I was just showing up at the odd [rodeo] as a spectator and it was my wife Joy, who's a champion barrel racer and breakaway roper, who suggested I have a go as a rodeo clown.
"It was a good decision. It's really become my life."
Big Al, who has won the title of Australian Rodeo Clown of the Year 10 times now, will be holding court at the East Coast Rodeo Championships at Shellharbour on Saturday.
"It's not just a sporting arena out there, it's also a theatre and you've got to keep the crowd entertained," he explained.
It's a long way from the Balmain bitumen and Big Al admits he still has to pinch himself when looking back on his journey.
"I often wonder how it happened myself," he said.
"For me, I think it's been my destiny. It was just meant to be."
The championship round of the East Coast Rodeo Championships will be held at the Ron Costello Oval on Saturday. Gates open at 4pm.
Growing up in Shellharbour, most of his mates took to the water, but 14-year-old Kye Willis was only ever going to be a bull rider.
Ron Costello Oval Shellharbour will host the final round of the East Coast Rodeo Championship series on Saturday with some of the country’s best competitors to take to a specially manufactured arena.
Championship belt buckles will be on the line and Willis will compete in the junior (under 18s) steer and bull ride with the aim of emulating his uncles and claiming an East Coast title.
A third-generation rodeo competitor, Willis spent his early years on poddy calves and watching his uncles star on the Australian and international rodeo circuit.
‘‘Ever since I saw my uncles on the bucking drum, I’ve wanted to do it,’’ Willis said.
‘‘All my uncles probably got me into it at the age of five.
‘‘My nan had three sons, two of which were bull riders.
‘‘My uncle Rodney was a qualifier for the world finals in Las Vegas.
‘‘He was the first generation of bull riders [in the family] and he made it very successful on the PBR. He’s also won a West Coast championship.
‘‘I’m the third generation and I’m chasing my first title and hopefully I can bring home a title for myself.’’
Born in Shellharbour, Willis moved to Wagga earlier this year to chase his dream of becoming a professional bull rider but said it would be extra special if he could claim an East Coast title in front of his family.
‘‘My first dream has always been to win an East Coast or West Coast title because that’s what my uncles have done,’’ he said.
‘‘It would really mean a lot to me to win a title in front of the family.’’