Rodeo Bullfighter Vital Part
of The Show

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

He's the man that you might see all over the rodeo arena. He's helping with the kids mutton bustin', he's helping direct traffic during the boot scramble and calf scramble, but come time for the roughest sport of all, the bull riding, he's the bull rider's best friend.....he's your bullfighter and the "lifeline" for any bull rider who finds himself in trouble!

 

 

 

We had the opportunity to meet one of the bullfighters from this weekend's UPRA Rodeo, in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, as he paused between duties. He's 26 year old, Lyndel Runyan, from Sulphur, Oklahoma.

 

 

"My most important job is to keep the bull riders safe!" allowed Runyan. "All the other stuff is just ways to help, until I get down to my main business!"

 

 

Runyan, unlike many bullfighters, didn't ride bulls before becoming a bullfighter. "I started out fighting bulls and liked it, when I was about 17 or 18 years old, when all my buddies were riding bulls and I discovered I enjoyed this aspect of the rodeo," expressed Runyan. "I still enjoy it an continue to spend my weekends at UPRA, PBR, and other rodeos, trying to keep cowboys safe!"

 

 

 

 

 

"When I'm not fighting bulls, I'm a diesel mechanic, by trade!" quipped Runyan. "But, I get off to a rodeo every chance I get!"

 

 

 

 

Enjoy these photos of Runyan at work in the arena, during this weekend's UPRA Rodeo, in Sulphur Springs, and possibly you'll "get the feel" of what he does for a living!

 

Runyan, right, heads for the fallen cowboy, while his partner distracts the bull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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