Dateline: September 11, 2008

A buck'n good time

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The first ever Saints’ Roost Buck’n Blow Out Rodeo drew a big crowd and was classified as a success last Saturday evening at the Clarendon Outdoor Entertainment Association’s Arena.

Organizer Jeff King said he wasn’t sure what to expect when he and others started planning Clarendon’s newest rodeo.

“I hoped we’d get 500 people to come out,” King said.

As it turned out, Saturday’s attendance was between 900 and 950.

“I am thoroughly tickled,” King said Monday. “We had 734 paid through the gate, and we sold 32 box seats which held up to six people each. For the first time, we did really great.”

The rodeo attracted six bareback riders, 14 saddle bronc riders, 31 bull riders, and ten double mugging teams.

McCloy Rodeo Co. provided stock for the event.

Officials results of each contest were not available at press time.

The event attracted rodeo fans from the local area and from outside the Tri-State area. The Clarendon Enterprise received phone calls from people interested in the event from Oklahoma and as far away as Kansas and Wyoming.

The rodeo also benefited from Clarendon College being in session, bringing in college students as both spectators and participants.

King said the Buck’n Blow Out board is already talking about plans for next year.

“We’ve got some ideas to make it better,” he said. “We want to increase the added money to $2,000 or $2,500. As long as COEA will let us use the arena, we’ll be back next year.”

The event started at 5 p.m. with a barbecue. Kids events began at 6 p.m., and the rodeo got underway at 7:00.  Casey Berry and the Live Texas Mosquitoes performed for the dance after the rodeo.