KBAT radio
8:20 a.m. Thursday and Friday
Special Kids Rodeo, Ector County Coliseum
9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday
All-American Dodge, Midland/Odessa stores
1-3 p.m. Saturday
There was a tiny split on the bridge of Wacey Munsell’s nose, and a stream of blood made its way down his cheek despite the continual dabs of a napkin.
That was in Kansas City, Mo., at the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo during the American Royal. The Ulysses, Kan., bullfighter had to get in close to the action to help rescue a bull rider in trouble. The end result was the split in his skin, but the cowboy came away from the tirade unharmed.
“That’s why we do what we do,” Munsell said.
During the Professional Bullfighters Daisy Protection Bullfight World Championships that take place in conjunction with the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, Munsell will be fighting with veteran Lance McIlvain of Arlington, Texas.
McIlvain, a late replacement into the competition, is coming off a strong season in the PBF, where he was named the Most Valuable Player at the Colby Yates Challenge in Sulphur Springs, Texas, in mid-August. At that event, Munsell and his partner claimed the championship.
The five-team 2008 season finale will take place during the rodeo, with performances scheduled Jan. 2-3 and 7-10 at the Ector County Coliseum.
Munsell and McIlvain earned their tickets to the world championships by finishing the regular season among the top five teams on the Daisy Protection Bullfight Tour. Their performance at the Colby Yates Challenge in August helped mold the two bullfighters together, which will come in handy during the World Championships.
“I’d love to win another PBF world title, and I’m looking forward to working with Lance,” Munsell said.
After all, both cowboys come from a family of bullfighters. They should get a pretty good grip on things quickly in the competition.