It has been a long road to recovery for Wagga cowboy Sean Lynch, inflicted with a major injury in March.
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A hellish bull ride landed Lynch in hospital with three broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and punctured lungs, and further complications, due to infection, threatened his chance of appearing at national titles this week.
No-one on the rodeo circuit has seen him in action since Easter, except for Tooma cowboy Brad Pierce, who was making the pilgrimage with Lynch to Warwick on Wednesday.
“He’s done it a bit tough, but he’s on the go now,” Pierce said.
“He started on practice bulls two weeks ago, he’s been on five bulls since he was hurt.”
Pierce, ranked seventh from 15 in the bull ride, would be proud to see his rival pull through with the title.
“We’re not really competing against each other, we’re competing against the bull,” he said.
“We’d be happy if the other one won. In the bull riding, if someone does well everyone’s pretty happy for them.”
The two-time Australian Professional Rodeo Association saddle-bronc champion aims to defend his title.
A bull riding title wouldn’t go astray either.
“It’s good coming in a bit low, there’s not a lot of pressure on you,” he said.
“I’ll need a bit of luck to go my way. I’m going to enjoy riding a few bulls, if you win in the process, even better.”
Tumbarumba bareback rider Ben Hall is the most likely man in the region to return with a title.
Placed first, with a $4,000 advantage, Hall has put in a concerted effort to ensure he doesn’t squander the opportunity.
“I’m in good shape, I’m feeling good, I don’t have many injuries,” he said.
“It’s been good to get on three horses a weekend, and try and work on a few things. I don’t think you should rest on your laurels, you should always look to better yourself.”
One cancelled rodeo after the next in October hasn’t prevented the local men from doing what they do best.
“I’ve been going to contractors’ places, getting on practice bulls and horses,” Pierce said.
“At home I’ve been riding horses around bareback, I’m starting to warm-up.”
Ben Thorpe from Young is the region’s best chance at snaring the bull-riding prize, running second.
Thorpe sustained an injury in April, and recovered two months ago.