South Country Championship Rodeo thrills crowd and promises to do it again Saturday

South Congaree, SC (Paul Kirby) - The South Congaree Championship Rodeo kicked off on Friday, September 25th, 2020 to a great crowd of enthusiastic rodeo fans. After a long delay due to the pandemic, people in the stands seemed ready to get out and enjoy the excitement of a real live rodeo.

Once again, Rance Woodley, the South Congaree Championship Rodeo’s producer, organized an action packed IPRA sanctioned event. This rodeo drew world class contestants from all over the nation who had been sitting at home since the pandemic cancelled much of their 2020 season. They were just itching to get back in the saddle and show off their skills to an appreciative crowd. The South Congaree Championship Rodeo was one of the first events in the region to be held and the performers who had been on hiatus had to deliver what Woodley had promised, an event that would be bigger and better than ever!

The arena's gates opened at 5:00 p.m. and there was a steady stream of fans coming in shortly thereafter. They enjoyed food from vendors like Rootin Tuten BBQ and live music as they browsed through the displays of western wear, long multi-horse trailers, and custom trucks. Some even took the opportunity to try their skills at sitting on the mechanical bull. The atmosphere was light, and people seemed to enjoy getting the little taste of normal, putting the virus out of their minds even if just for a few hours.

Contestants began to gather in the rear of the arena shortly after 5:00 p.m. and continued the rest of the evening. They stretched, prepared their animals, and went over their all-important equipment as the start of the rodeo drew closer. The contestants are all scrambling to win as much money and points as possible in the shortened season. In the world of rodeo, a dollar equals a point and points are what get you to the IPRA Championship Finals scheduled for early 2021 in Oklahoma.

The Ken Treadway Stock Company out of Laurens, SC brought in the rodeo’s other performers, the broncs, bulls, steers, and calves. They are contestants too and are awarded points that compile in the chase for their own title of champion. These animals included the championship contender Dirty White Bull who has the potential to be crowned the IPRA’S Bull of the Year for 2020. Treadway has been in the rodeo business his entire life and often brings with him many other rodeo champions like the bone busting bronc Desperado and the former IPRA World Champion Bull Texas Black Twister.

The rodeo started between 7:30 and 8:00 p.m. and it was none too soon for the fans. The contestants delivered what Woodley had promised, real live non-stop rodeo action! Athletes like Georgia native Justin Thigpen, the reigning IPRA's 19 time All Around Champion Cowboy traveled to South Congaree to show off their skills to the adoring crowd. Just like all the other contestants, Thigpen must win those all-important points if he's going to keep his crown.

South Congaree’s rodeo featured everything you would expect from a championship rodeo. Of course, there was saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and the always crowd-pleasing bull riding. Dust and cowboys flew as the broncs and bulls tried to dump their riders and complete their eight seconds of work for the day. Only a few cowboys were able to master the skill of hanging onto the rank animals for dear life for the eight seconds while making it look as they knew they were going to be on their mount when the buzzer blew!

Trick rider and steely eyed shooter Sophie Duch, 13, of Oklahoma, was back again this year. She performed her act flawlessly during the intermission. Sophie, a specialty act that trick rides and shoots has the poise and grace of someone much older with many more years of rodeo experience. She has mastered the skill of Roman Riding which features her standing on the backs of two horses who gallop at high speed around the rodeo's arena. Duchs said she planned to show off those skills Saturday night.

Friday night, after opening the show with an American flag presentation that had her circle the arena standing atop her saddle with a large version of the stars and stripes in both her hands, Sophie’s showed off her skills with a .45 caliber revolver and her double barrel shotgun. This brought the crowd to their feet as she again circled the arena shooting out bright balloons during her performance. The applause was thunderous as she completed her act and made it look easy.

This year, she’s added a trick that features Sophia speeding down the center of the arena standing on her two horses. They weave in and out of flaming torches as she stands effortlessly atop their backs. She’s promised fans will see that one during Saturday’s performance.

The clown clowned, the riders roped and rode, and the beautiful ladies circled the barrels at top speed as their hats blew off and landed in the dirt. Of course, more animals than cowboys took a victory lap as they proved once again successfully rodeoing isn’t something a lot of people can do.

If you've never been to a real rodeo you have the perfect opportunity to catch your first Saturday night. Once again, the gates of the arena located at 395 Oak St in West Columbia, SC will open at 5:00 p.m. You can get your tickets at the gate. Adult admission is $18.00 and youth 6 through 12 are $16.00 each. Little buckaroos 5 and under are free.