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The Spiker Gazette |
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Oxford, WV
Volume 4
Issue 8 August
16, 2010 |
Written by: Cathy Gregis
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Consol Energy presented the 4th Annual
Championship Bull Ride at John and Sue Spiker's Farm in Jane Lew WV,
on Saturday, July 31 2010. With the mechanical bull ride, pony
rides, air castle, fresh roasted corn and pork barbeque sandwiches,
even a hard rain couldn't put a damper on the good time had by all.
Children and parents alike enjoyed
watching the Mutton
Bustin' as 20 kids vied for the honor of Champion, although a few
decided not to ride when faced with a skittish sheep. Hats and
shirts were given out to honor our veterans and armed forces.
There was a lot of tense but
entertaining action as the bulls took center stage. The bull
rider's goal is to stay on the bull for eight seconds using a bull
rope and rosin to ride. The bull rope is a thickly braided
rope with a cowbell attached. The cowbell acts as a weight that
allows the rope to fall off the bull. Bull riders wrap this rope
around the bull and then around their hand trying to secure
themselves to the bull.
 Rosin,
just like the sticky substance on pine trees, increases the grip on
the bull rope. On the day of the event, the rain made the
rosin messy, gummed up and slick. It loosened the riders'
grips making it difficult to hold on.
(continued at right)
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(continued from left)
Judges award points for both the
cowboy's and the animal's performances. The maximum point value of
100 is considered a "perfect ride." The cowboys may ride with
only one hand and cannot touch the bull, or themselves, with the
free hand. Doing so will result in a "no score."
Bull fighters and barrel men aid the bull rider
 by
distracting the animal. Although they are putting themselves
in harm's way to protect the rider, their antics provide great
entertainment for the crowd.
A few spectators left early due to a
hard downpour of rain (and missed the resulting prismatic rainbow
that made the wet clothes seem almost worthwhile.) Those that
stayed until the end, however, witnessed a bull facing down
the barrel man and bull rider, exciting the crowd and giving
everyone lots to talk about on the way home.
Click here to view more pictures from my album
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Announcements
Submitted by Cathy Gregis -- As a follow-up to the article above,
John Bob Spiker calved and raised a bull named Super Hou to a year old,
then a partner took him with his bull. They brought him to
futurity and he did so well that they sold him.
For the first few years of its life, a bull is trained through the use
of dummies. Super Hou has been bucking with riders for a year now
but has never been ridden for eight seconds. He recently had his
first out in the PBR Built Ford Tough Series in San Antonio, Texas but
he is still unridden.
Submitted by Shelly Currey -- Robby Currey III, son of Robert and
Shelly Currey, was selected to WV State FFA Office. During the
State Convention at Cedar Lakes in July 2000, Robby was elected
Secretary. He is the 3rd person from Doddridge County to be
elected to office since its inception in 1928, and the first from the
county to be elected into the position of Secretary. This is truly
the chance of a lifetime; he will mentor students all over the
state and represent 4800 West Virginia FFA members in various events.
Robby and the FFA-elected President
traveled to Washington DC to meet the members of congress, senators and
the house of representatives, toured the White House, Smithsonian, the
Washington Monument, and several other historic sites during the week of
July 26 - August 1. This is only the beginning for his year-long
adventure.
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FRONT ROW LEFT
TO RIGHT: Michelle Biser, Eastern Vice President; Matt
Coe, Vice President; John Lockhartk, President; Robby Currey,
Secretary; Amanda Hannon, Vice President. BACK ROW LEFT
TO RIGHT: Seth Neal, Vice President; Caleb Smith, Vice
President; Russell Kidwell, Southwestern Vice President; Katie
Wolf, Northeastern Vice President. |
Dates to Remember
| August 5 |
BIRTHDAY - Willa Dean Spiker |
| August 6 |
BIRTHDAY - Ryan Thrush |
| August 8 |
ANNIVERSARY - Kelly & John Hicks |
| August 9 |
ANNIVERSARY - Marilyn & Mark Spiker |
| August 11 |
BIRTHDAY - Dana Hurst |
| August 20 |
BIRTHDAY - Marilyn Spiker |
| August 22 |
BIRTHDAY - Shelly Currey |
| August 22 |
BIRTHDAY - Shaun Gifford |
| August 25 |
ANNIVERSARY - Marty & Mike Spiker |
| September 1 |
BIRTHDAY - Cruz Hayes |
| September 10 |
BIRTHDAY - Conrad Larew |
| September 23 |
BIRTHDAY -Alice Matheny |
| September 23 |
BIRTHDAY - Kelly Hicks |
| September 25 |
BIRTHDAY - Adreanna Hess |
| September 28 |
ANNIVERSARY - Cathy & Larry Gregis |
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If you discover a
date that we've omitted, please be sure to let us know.
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We are looking for contributors to The Spiker Gazette.
Please send your newsy tidbits to our staff for insertion in future
editions. |
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