Nick Vernon, Campus Carrier Deputy News Editor
Block and Bridle hosted its sixth annual Battle on the Mountain bull riding event on March 28 at the Gunby Equine Center. Over 1,500 people attended the event.
Jon Mastrangelo, 31, of Plainville, Ga., won after maintaining his mount for the longest amount of time.
Antonia van Os, treasurer of Block and Bridle, explained how the riders are brought to Berry.
“The riders have to be invited,” van Os said. “There were only 22 riders in total. Charlie Lowry brings in the bulls.”
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| Jason Huynh, P.R. Director A bull rider competes in Block and Bridle’s annual Battle on the Mountain bull riding competition. The rodeo, which is a fundraiser for Berry’s Block and Bridle organization, is an invitational featuring accomplished bull riders showing their skills and competing with each other. Over 1,500 people attended this year’s event on March 28. |
Lowry is the founder of the 4L and Diamond S Rodeo Company of Summerville, Ga.
“He has some of the best bucking stock in this area,” van Os said. “Charlie invites the riders, and there is prize money and a belt buckle for the winner.”
Casto explained how the winner of the bull riding event is determined.
“There are two judges that score and rank the bull riders based on their performance,” Casto said. “The top ten bull riders advance to the second round. The ten bull riders’ scores are averaged between the two rounds. The highest ranked bull rider of those ten bull riders wins the competition. They receive a buckle designed by Block and Bridle Club and the pot money.”
John Logan, a sophomore animal science major and member of Block and Bridle, attended the event and expressed his excitement about bull riding.
“It was a heck of a ride,” Logan said. “There were very different riders and that made it entertaining to watch. One of the riders was a 15-year-old high school student.”
In addition to the bull riding, there were other forms of entertainment students and visitors could enjoy, such as a petting zoo featuring puppies, sheep and a horse.
Battle on the Mountain has been successful for six years, and Block and Bridle hopes to host it next year with continued success.
