LAS VEGAS NATIONAL SENIOR PRO RODEO: 8-second thrill ride

Cowboys to strap in for rough-stock action

courtesy national senior pro rodeo associationLas Vegas National Senior Pro Rodeo action will take over Clark County?s Horseman Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, Thursday through Sunday.

If you're looking to take in some rest and relaxation this weekend, this is definitely not your event -- as the official Web site of the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association states, "No rocking chairs!" (allowed).

Rather, Las Vegas NSPRA rodeo secretary Buttons Warburton said, "This event promises a great deal of try. These are people who have maintained their athleticism and love of the sport. Even though they're 40 years and over, the competitive spirit is alive and well."

Set for Thursday through Sunday at Clark County's Horseman Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, the Las Vegas senior rodeo tour stop will feature rough stock -- saddle bronc, bull and bareback riding -- calf roping and ladies barrel racing, among other events.

As it breaks down, the rodeo will include competition in four age groups -- 40 to 50 years old, 50 to 60 years old, 60 and over, and the additional category of 68 years old and up.

The Las Vegas NSPRA is sponsored by Western Heritage & Education Inc., and was nominated for 2006 Rodeo of the Year honors by contestants along the tour. Although the event did not win, "When it happened, it was an honor we were so thrilled to hear about," said Warburton.

According to Warburton, the rodeo is a great way to introduce and keep people interested in the Western lifestyle.

"The Western Heritage & Education Inc. is a nonprofit organization that was started two years ago to promote and educate people of the Western way of life. Its goal is to keep the Western lifestyle alive.

"In Las Vegas, with so many people moving in from all over, you have people who have never seen a horse up close before," she said.

So, for those unaccustomed to the sight of a snorting equine or the force of a raging bull, the rodeo is a good introduction to the brave spirit of the West.

Today, roughly 1,500 rodeo professionals call themselves members of the NSPRA, traveling to more than 70 rodeos a year. In addition to individual tour purses, cowboys and girls earn points on their way to winning a spot on the Senior Pro Rodeo National Finals. This year, the event will be held in Winnemucca during the first weekend in November.

For more information on the NSPRA tour or the senior rodeo finals, log on to www.seniorrodeo.com.