Bulls pack a punch at Grant County Fair event
Published 11:57 am Wednesday, August 17, 2016
- The grandstands were packed to overflowing for the Friday night Grant County Freestyle Bullfighting event.
Freestyle Bullfighting at the Grant County Fair delivered what organizer Trever Hamsher promised would be “the most intense, extreme sport you will ever see.”
The entertainment had the bullfighters jumping over the bulls, dancing around the bulls — and trying not to become gored by the bulls.
Justin Jose of Apache, Oklahoma, won the event up against a bull named #21 Jump Street with a score of 87.
Jesse Tennet of Springfield placed second, and Sean Peterson of Summerville took third.
The bulls had the upper hand over Liam Bertolacci and Bradon Johnson, who left the arena by ambulance.
Bertolacci, 19, who’s been in the business of bullfighting for just a year and a half, had a torn lung. He was released from Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day the following day.
Johnson was treated and released with a knee injury.
Hamsher said he hopes their recoveries go well.
“They’ll heal up,” he said.
“I want to say thank you to everyone that came out and supported it, and thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors, along with the fair office and fair board,” Hamsher said. “I hope to see everyone there next year.”