ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 7, 2020

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TRACY RENCK

How did you get your start in rodeo? Ky: My dad used to ride saddle bronc horses and bulls in Australia. All my dad’s side of the family was into rodeo. I have cousins that rode and fought bulls, and my grandfather rode bareback horses and saddle bronc horses. When I was 12, I became interested and started riding steers. I always wanted to go to America to rodeo, and I did that for the first time when I made the Junior High School Finals in Des Moines, Iowa, when I was 15. Did you rodeo on your permit last year? Ky: Yes. I spoke with a lot of people I have in my corner and they told me I should get my PRCA card for the 2020 season, so I did. (Hamilton finished eighth in the 2019 PRCA | RAM Rodeo Permit Standings with $26,081). What has your rookie year been like? Ky: When the new season started at the end of last year, I had high expectations for myself to start things off good. I didn’t do as well as I should have. After the Christmas break, I got things sorted, and since the new (calendar) year has started, I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been going. Hopefully, I can just keep improving. I really enjoy it over here (in America). I have made contacts with a lot of people. Are you college rodeoing? Ky: Yes, at Sul Ross State University in Alpine (Texas). I rodeoed at Odessa (Texas) College for a year and then I Bull rider Ky Hamilton, 19, a native of Mackay, Queensland, Australia, is off to a great start in his rookie year in the PRCA. As of Feb. 3, he had earned $19,769, which placed him sixth in the 2020 PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings. Hamilton, who is second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, is optimistic he can ride well enough to qualify for the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas.

KY HAMILTON

came to Sul Ross. The coach (C.J. Aragon) who recruited me to go to Odessa took a job (as the head rodeo coach) at Sul Ross, and (by then) it was too late for me to transfer. I did a year at Odessa and transferred to Sul Ross because that coach has done a lot for me and wants to see me succeed. What was it like placing second at the Division 1 Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 21-22?

Ky: That was cool. That was the second Xtreme Bulls event I had been at that had a short round. To get to ride there, it made me realize if I do my job at these bigger events they are going to pay more, and that’s going to help me in the standings. (Hamilton earned $10,366 at the event).

What’s the biggest difference between rodeoing in Australia and rodeoing in America in the PRCA? Ky: The amount of events. At home, if I was lucky, I would get to do two events on a weekend. Then, you might have a two-week break before there’s another event. Also, entering with the PRCA is a lot more different, you have to be on the ball all the time. That took a lot of getting used to, as well as the geography and knowing where everything is. Has your family been impacted by the Australian wildfires? Ky: My family got a bit of rain over Christmas. They are further north of the fires and are pretty lucky. What do you enjoy about bull riding? Ky: I like that you can take an animal that is so big and so intimidating and look effortless riding it. What’s your favorite movie? Ky: Tombstone . What’s your favorite restaurant? Ky: Chili’s. I get steak and vegetables. I try and drink water, but I like Coke. What’s your favorite candy? Ky: Peanut M&M’s. What was your favorite cartoon to watch? Ky: SpongeBob SquarePants . What’s been your favorite rodeo to compete at so far?

Ky: The Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. Competing on the grass was cool. I want to go to Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days. Besides that, I want to go to the NFR in Las Vegas. To get to the Wrangler NFR I just need to make sure I do my job everywhere and the rest will take care of itself. What type of music do you listen to? Ky: (Rapper) Kevin Gates, and when I’m wanting to relax, I will listen to a bit of George Strait. What do you do in your spare time? Ky: I usually like to go to the gym or go do something fun, like in Denver, buddies and I rode scooters downtown. Back at home, I used to hunt a lot of hogs, but I have not done any hunting here in America.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/7/2020

ProRodeo.com

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