Huron Expositor, 2002-09-11, Page 7News
Cranbrook-area bullrider to ride
in Ontario rodeo finals in Stratford
By Scott Hilgndorff
Expositor Editor
Peter Hallman's first bull
rope was fashioned out of
baler twine and his first ride
with it was on the back of a
calf at John Scully's farm near
Rockwood.
He never looked back.
"It caught me right away,"
said the 22 -year-old bull rider
from Cranbrook.
He went to Scully's farm as
a 12 -year-old, going along
with his uncle, Stephe
Hallman, a rodeo veteran in
the Ontario Rodeo
Association and someone
Peter still admires as a
competitor.
Peter doesn't remember
exactly what the experience
was like the first time he got
on a calf but remembers
wanting to keep doing it and
getting on the ones none of the
other kids there wanted to get
on because they were too
rough.
Peter would go with his
uncle each time Stephe went
to practice roping at Scully's,
a place where rodeo
competitors regular practice.
From practicing on calves at
Scully's Peter entered two
rodeos in junior steer riding.
His second year, he went to as
many as he could and made
the finals.
His third year, he began
bucking off the steers because
he had become too big and
awkward to ride them.
"I entered bulls when I was
still 15 years old," he said.
And he discovered it was
the right event for him.
He can remember getting on
the backs of steers and feeling
his legs shaking from being
nervous and excited.
But on the back of a bull, a
2000 pound animal that does
not want him there and will do
anything to make sure he does
not stay there, Hallman said,
"There was no shake. I felt
like I was where I should be."
Now, he said, "I think I'm
just having too much fun. I
think it's just the outlook I
have on it."
Peter discovered when he
puts pressure on himself to
win, like he said he did last
season, he doesn't do nearly
as well.
To win, Hallman must stay
Bluewater
remind us
A portion of last week's
Bluewater council meeting
was dedicated to the memory
of lives lost in the terrorist
attacks on the World Trade
Centre and Pentagon.
"In light of the U.S. attack,
what has happened to a lot of
citizens, the firefighters and
police in protecting us...Our
local firemen are hurting
badly," said Mayor Bill
Dowson.
"We must support more of
our firefighters on the fringe,
in Clinton, Grand Bend,
Exeter and Dashwood." He
added Bluewater has 90
firefighters including one
woman.
"Every time they leave their
home, they risk their lives,"
he said. "Their families will
worry more now. When you
meet them on the street, shake
their hand and thank them."
Dowson said Sept. 11, 2001,
on the bull for a total of eight
seconds and, during the, ride,
earn a score out of 100 based
on how in control he is of the
ride, how much he spurs, how
well he maintains his balance
and how hard the bull bucks
or spins.
The top riders will actually
receive prize money at the end
of the rodeo and earn points
toward the Ontario Rodeo
Association finals being held
this weekend at the Stratford
Fairgrounds.
The weekend will feature
the top competitors in the
seven standard events in
rodeo; saddle, bronc riding,
bareback bronc riding, calf
roping, team roping, steer
wrestling, barrel racing and
bull riding. It also features
ladies break away roping, and
junior steer riding and junior
barrel racing.
"I'm not there to make
money. That's why I still have
a day job. I'm there to have
fun and visit with my friends,"
he said. Since he took that
attitude, he said he's made as
much money in one month of
rodeo this year as he did all of
last season.
However, he does take it
seriously enough that he did
earn himself a spot in the top
seven this season to go to
Stratford. He competed in
many of almost 30 rodeos
Peter Hallman
held in communities across
Ontario this summer to earn
points toward the finals.
"I am there to get something
done, but if I don't, I'm not
going to curse and swear
myself to death," he said.
Prior to last year, Peter has
regularly made Ontario Rodeo
Association finals. While
missing both last year, he
made the finals for the
Hardway association of
professional bull riders in
New York State where he had
been travelling with Brandon
Moore, another of the
association's top bullriders.
That association strictly
features bullriding.
Peter began riding at the
Hardway level two years ago
when he just went expecting
to have fun but wasn't really
certain he could hold his own
against the other competitors,
some of whom have ridden
professional bull riders'
events.
Peter surprised himself and
some of the other competitors
covering some rank stock after
a rough start.
"It was weird to get used
to," he said of being able to
hold his own against the other
bull riders. "It was tough
competition."
He said that season was the
most fun he had had so far
meeting new people at rodeos
Scott Hilgendorff photo
in New York and
Pennsylvania while still
travelling the Ontario circuits.
Riding bulls means
everything to Peter.
"I wait all week just to do it
twice a weekend. It's where I
want to be. I would do it every
day if I could," he said. There
are two main rodeo companies
in Ontario and most weekends
during the summer, there will
be two rodeos in different
communities. Competitors
only ride once at a rodeo
during the weekend and will
usually compete in both when
there are two rodeos going on.
If he could afford to, Peter
would make rodeo a full-time
career but for right now, just
has his sights set on winning a
buckle.
While he would like to win,
a buckle, the ultimate rodeo
prize, Peter is trying harder
this year not to put too much
pressure on himself. He wants
a buckle but it doesn't have to
be this year, or the next. He
thinks the pressure he has put
on himself at the finals in
other years has contributed to
a poorer performance than
what he knows he can give.
"I don't know what I'd be
doing now. Because of him,
I'm doing what I love," said
Peter.
mayor says terrorist attacks
to support local firefighters
the date of the terrorist attack,
is also important because the
ninth month on the 11th day
also symbolizes 9 1 1, the
universal emergency
telephone number.
"I'm prepared to designate
this day for church services,
something to thank the
firemen and women," he
pledged. Council didn't act
that evening.
At Dowson's request, Rev.
Elly Van Bergen of the
Goshen United Church said a
few words and a prayer before
an audience of approximately
20 people.
"Every where we go, we
hear talk of the same thing.
Talk begins the process of
healing. Irreplaceable damage
has been done in so many
ways," she said. "But don't let
ourselves be hardened and our
spirit will become stronger.
This tests who we are."
She asked those in few hours on the Internet, in a
attendance to focus on prayer,
because there's "nothing so
powerful" and because that's
what every nationality and
every religion does.
Fire Chief Bob Wilson of
the Brucefield Fire
Department thanked Van
Bergen and Dowson for their
kind words. He also spent a
chat room for firefighters. He
learned of a request from New
York firefighters for childrens'
clothing, blankets, winter
clothing and more.
"We don't know what to do
yet, but in the chat room, the
concensus is mental stability,"
he said.
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THE MUNICIPALITY OF CENTRAL HURON
Residential & Farm Property Tax
Installment Due Dates: September 28th
and November 30th, 2001. New Provincial
Capping Regulations have caused a delay in
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2002 tax billing.
Chuiati
`Goderich
rViCeS
You are invited to
attend these area churches
First Presbyterian
Church
St. W. Seatorth
.
Rev. Vandermey
Worship Sunday
11:15 am
Sunday School during Worship
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jarvis St. Seatorth 482-7861
Rev. Tim Connor
Sunday Service
at 9:30 am.
Coffee Hour at 8:15 a.m. prior to
service in honour of Rev. Tim's
Final Sunday with us.
Parish Assistance Call
522-0929 or 345-2023
Catholic Church
Saturday - 5:15 pm
St. James Parish, Seaforth
Saturday - 7:15 pm
St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton
Sunday - 9:00 am
St. Michael's Parish, Blyth
Sunday 11:00 am
St. James Parish, Seatorth
Father Lance Magdziak
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Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
SundayWorship Hour 11 am
P
Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups
Wednesdays 7 p.m.
Egmondville
United Church
Anniversary Sunday Sept. 30
Guest Speaker - Cheryl -Ann
Stadelbauer-Sampa
Sunday School Gr. 2-8 - 10 a m.
Adults
Nursery -Gr. 1 - 11 a.m.
Worship 11 a.m.
NORTHSIDE
UNITED CHURCHES
Rev. Sheila Macgregor
527-2635 or 527-1449
Northside Dedication of Window
with Luncheon
NORTHSIDE OUTREACH COM.
OFFICIAL BOARD OF
MEETS TONIGHT AT
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54 Goderich St. W.
in Memory of Barb Betties
to follow.
MEETING: TONIGHT AT 6:15 p.m.
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