Post by rodeopromotions on Apr 9, 2007 17:26:34 GMT -5
DONNELL RODEO PROMOTIONS
503 N Main Street Ste 712
Pueblo, CO 81003
719-543-6458
mdonnell@interaccess.com
www.rodeopromotions.com
For Immediate Release
For Additional Information
Mike Donnell at Donnell Rodeo Promotions
LANE FROST CHALLENGE BULL RIDING EVENT TO FEATURE TOP MEN BULL RIDERS PLUS A SPECIAL WOMEN’S DIVISION
Vernal, UT, April 8, 2007 ----- On May 18 and 19 many of the nation’s top men
bull riders will be in Vernal, Utah for the 7th annual Lane Frost Challenge a bull riding
event produced in honor of legendary professional bull rider Lane Frost about whom the
movie 8 Seconds was made.
At this year’s event, fans will also be able to see the top women bull riders
compete as well. But, they will not be competing against the men. They are being
invited to appear in a special presentation during which they will compete against each
other for their own prize money.
“This year, we made the Lane Frost an invitational event and invited the nation’s
top men bull riders to compete in our two day event here in Vernal, Historically this has
been very popular within the bull riding world because of the lasting impact that Lane
Frost made on the sport” said Eldon Munson, owner of EMJ Productions which is
producing the event. “We also have many of the top bulls in the sport so our fans will
see some exceptional bull rides.” A portion of the proceeds from the event will be used
to fund charitable programs including the Lane Frost College Fund which provides
college scholarships through the nation’s high school rodeo program.
Munson added that his company decided include a new feature in the event by
inviting the women bull riders. “Most people have not had an opportunity to see these
unique athletes perform and we believe they will enjoy it.”
The women’s appearance in Vernal is being sponsored by California clothing
company, Cowgirl Attitude. Mike Donnell, head of Donnell Rodeo Promotions which is
helping produce the special feature said, many people do not realize that there are
women who ride bulls competitively. “The contestants coming to Vernal are from
throughout the country and are some of the top bull riders on the Women’s Professional
Rodeo Circuit and compete regularly at local rodeos and bull riding events.”
Televised coverage of the Lane Frost Invitational is being provided by Bullriding
TV www.bullridingtv.com
For Additional Information
Mike Donnell
Donnell Rodeo Promotions
mdonnell@interaccess.com
719-543-6458
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WOMEN BULL RIDERS APPEARING AT THE
LANE FROST INVITATIONAL BULL RIDING EVENT IN VERNAL, UTAH MAY 18-19
2007
1. Vanessa Hodgson. ..... Twenty three year old Vanessa Hodgson hails from Niles
Michigan. She rides bulls and bareback bucking horses and was the Women’s
Professional Rodeo Association Rookie Of The Year in 2003. events and independent
rodeos. Vanessa, was a standout high school athlete who was a state wrestling
champion and also played softball. She was recently featured in a fashion story in
Marie Claire magazine and in the Detroit Free Press. More information at
www.rodeopromotions.com.
2. Mandy Shipsky .... Mandy, who is 27 years old hails from Joshua Texas. This wife
and mother has been riding bulls for 11 years and is a two time WPRA bull riding
champion. She also raises bucking bulls.
3. Kelly Gilbert ..... Kelly, a 23 year old from California, started her rodeo career at age
12 and was the first girl to qualify for the Junior Bull Riders national finals. She also
competes in WPRA events. When not riding bulls, she surfs, snowboards, wakeboards
and rides mountain bikes. She has also been a sky diver and spent a year training as a
woman boxer.
4. Dee Dee Crawford .... A horse trainer from Ben Wheeler, Texas, 25 year old Dee
Dee is a six time WPRA Finals qualifier in both bull riding and the bareback events and
was the bull riding champion in both 2005 and 2006.
5. Melissa Glass .... Twenty seven year old Melissa was the WPRA’s 2004 Rookie of
The Year in both bull riding and bareback riding. She works for a veterinarian and
breaks horses
6. Jamie Walker .... When not riding bulls competitively, Californian Jamie Walker is a
college student about to earn a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. .
She works full time as a custody officer for her local police department and also
coaches high school softball, a sport she played competitively in high school until bull
riding injuries cut her career short.
7. Lorette Guzman Mills .... Lorette, a resident of Las Vegas grew up in a circus family
and was a trapeze artist at one time. Later she learned to ride bulls while working as a
stunt woman in the film industry and has continued with the sport, riding in WPRA and
local events.
503 N Main Street Ste 712
Pueblo, CO 81003
719-543-6458
mdonnell@interaccess.com
www.rodeopromotions.com
For Immediate Release
For Additional Information
Mike Donnell at Donnell Rodeo Promotions
LANE FROST CHALLENGE BULL RIDING EVENT TO FEATURE TOP MEN BULL RIDERS PLUS A SPECIAL WOMEN’S DIVISION
Vernal, UT, April 8, 2007 ----- On May 18 and 19 many of the nation’s top men
bull riders will be in Vernal, Utah for the 7th annual Lane Frost Challenge a bull riding
event produced in honor of legendary professional bull rider Lane Frost about whom the
movie 8 Seconds was made.
At this year’s event, fans will also be able to see the top women bull riders
compete as well. But, they will not be competing against the men. They are being
invited to appear in a special presentation during which they will compete against each
other for their own prize money.
“This year, we made the Lane Frost an invitational event and invited the nation’s
top men bull riders to compete in our two day event here in Vernal, Historically this has
been very popular within the bull riding world because of the lasting impact that Lane
Frost made on the sport” said Eldon Munson, owner of EMJ Productions which is
producing the event. “We also have many of the top bulls in the sport so our fans will
see some exceptional bull rides.” A portion of the proceeds from the event will be used
to fund charitable programs including the Lane Frost College Fund which provides
college scholarships through the nation’s high school rodeo program.
Munson added that his company decided include a new feature in the event by
inviting the women bull riders. “Most people have not had an opportunity to see these
unique athletes perform and we believe they will enjoy it.”
The women’s appearance in Vernal is being sponsored by California clothing
company, Cowgirl Attitude. Mike Donnell, head of Donnell Rodeo Promotions which is
helping produce the special feature said, many people do not realize that there are
women who ride bulls competitively. “The contestants coming to Vernal are from
throughout the country and are some of the top bull riders on the Women’s Professional
Rodeo Circuit and compete regularly at local rodeos and bull riding events.”
Televised coverage of the Lane Frost Invitational is being provided by Bullriding
TV www.bullridingtv.com
For Additional Information
Mike Donnell
Donnell Rodeo Promotions
mdonnell@interaccess.com
719-543-6458
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WOMEN BULL RIDERS APPEARING AT THE
LANE FROST INVITATIONAL BULL RIDING EVENT IN VERNAL, UTAH MAY 18-19
2007
1. Vanessa Hodgson. ..... Twenty three year old Vanessa Hodgson hails from Niles
Michigan. She rides bulls and bareback bucking horses and was the Women’s
Professional Rodeo Association Rookie Of The Year in 2003. events and independent
rodeos. Vanessa, was a standout high school athlete who was a state wrestling
champion and also played softball. She was recently featured in a fashion story in
Marie Claire magazine and in the Detroit Free Press. More information at
www.rodeopromotions.com.
2. Mandy Shipsky .... Mandy, who is 27 years old hails from Joshua Texas. This wife
and mother has been riding bulls for 11 years and is a two time WPRA bull riding
champion. She also raises bucking bulls.
3. Kelly Gilbert ..... Kelly, a 23 year old from California, started her rodeo career at age
12 and was the first girl to qualify for the Junior Bull Riders national finals. She also
competes in WPRA events. When not riding bulls, she surfs, snowboards, wakeboards
and rides mountain bikes. She has also been a sky diver and spent a year training as a
woman boxer.
4. Dee Dee Crawford .... A horse trainer from Ben Wheeler, Texas, 25 year old Dee
Dee is a six time WPRA Finals qualifier in both bull riding and the bareback events and
was the bull riding champion in both 2005 and 2006.
5. Melissa Glass .... Twenty seven year old Melissa was the WPRA’s 2004 Rookie of
The Year in both bull riding and bareback riding. She works for a veterinarian and
breaks horses
6. Jamie Walker .... When not riding bulls competitively, Californian Jamie Walker is a
college student about to earn a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. .
She works full time as a custody officer for her local police department and also
coaches high school softball, a sport she played competitively in high school until bull
riding injuries cut her career short.
7. Lorette Guzman Mills .... Lorette, a resident of Las Vegas grew up in a circus family
and was a trapeze artist at one time. Later she learned to ride bulls while working as a
stunt woman in the film industry and has continued with the sport, riding in WPRA and
local events.
