HE’S probably not the drawcard that special guest, NRL legend Anthony Minichiello was last year, but bullrider Jason O’Hearn will attract plenty of attention when he bursts from the chutes at the upcoming Bendemeer Rodeo.
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At 36, O’Hearn is considered a veteran but still enjoys his chosen sport despite having sustained “heaps” of injuries in his long reign.
“I started when I was about 14,” he said.
“It’s a fair while to be still riding but once it gets into your blood it’s a thrill thing.”
Filtered through his “heaps” of injuries was his last episode while competing in the 2011 final of the World PBR Bullride in America.
“I got hurt pretty badly – was in a coma for a couple of days and didn’t know whether I’d ride again.
“I sort of lost the momentum and drive to ride.
“It’s a great lifestyle but it can wear you down after a while, especially when you’re getting on in years.”
Since returning to the dirt-biting circuit of bullride, O’Hearn has been on fire, grabbing the 2015 ABCRA Bullriding title last month.
“It’s my first ABCRA title but something special because, for me, that’s where it all started.”
O’Hearn, who has been working with Telfer Rural Fencing since moving to Tamworth from the Hunter Valley 18 months ago, spent six years on and off riding in Canada and America.
There he competed in PRB, making the finals of both the PBR World Finals and the Calgary Stampede.
“It’s definitely the pinnacle of rodeo over there but we’ve got some pretty handy riders here,” he said.
“They start a lot younger over there and there are a lot more of them riding.”
O’Hearn is looking forward to the under lights, Bendemeer Rodeo on February 14, a rodeo that draws top competitors from a wide area in both rodeo and campdraft.
“It’s a top little rodeo. I won up there quite a few years ago, but was third last year,” he said.
