PBR event ahead for Saturday

Bull riders, bullfighters and a legendary barrel man will be in the spotlight on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Ninth Annual Fredericksburg PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the professional bull riding starts at 7:30 p.m.

The evening show includes PBR bull riding long rounds and finals, mutton busting and Shorty Gorham’s American Freestyle Bullfighting.

Legendary bullfighter or “rodeo clown” Leon Coffee will also be out in the arena.

Earlier in the day, gates open at 2:30 p.m. for junior bull riding at 3 p.m. Finals will be held during the evening show.

General admission is $20.

Admission for children six to 12 years of age is $10 and free for children five and under.

Box seats are $40 and reserved seats are $25. Cost for first responders and military personnel is $10.

To purchase tickets in advance, visit www.gillespiefair.net or call 997-2359.

Tickets will also be sold at the gate on the night of the event.

Beer and concessions will be sold on the grounds.

Parking is free.

The Fredericksburg PBR is part of the PBR’s Touring Pro Division, with riders competing for points to earn spots in the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas in October.

The bull riding takes place on the track in front of the grandstand, and the chutes will be set up so that the bulls will ride out toward the grandstand.

Officials with the Gillespie County Fair and Festivals Association noted that the evening is suitable for all ages and is family friendly.

Mutton busting

The event will also include mutton busting for youngsters.

Mutton busting is limited to the first 20 riders who sign up.

Participants must weigh 70 pounds or less.

There is a $20 entry fee, and sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Leon Coffee

Coffee, a native of Blanco, has spent more than three decades on the professional rodeo circuit as a rodeo “clown,” more often referred to as a bullfighter.

His job was to distract the bulls and protect the cowboys while entertaining the crowd with hijinks and family humor.

He has worked as barrel man for both the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), was named Clown of the Year in 1983 and was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.