The grandstands were absolutely packed for this year’s freestyle bullfight at the Grant County Fair on Saturday night.

Mud, hats and cowboys flew as bullfighters tried to stylishly avoid being gored by the massive animals.

Their attempts at evasion met with various degrees of success, but ultimately Justin Josey won the $1,500 grand prize. This is Josey’s second year in a row winning the event.

Despite the danger of the sport, there were no serious injuries at this year’s fight.

James Hankinson, in his fourth year bullfighting, said there’s nothing like it.

“I can’t even explain it. It’s the most natural addicting drug that you could ever do,” he said. “When you’re right there on their head and you have them right there in your back pocket and you’re stepping around them, it’s a really intimate feeling. You’re on top of the world.”

He’s been injured in the arena but nothing severe, only torn ligaments, he said. He’s passionate about the sport and loves it despite the danger.

“It’s the love that keeps you going forward,” Hankinson said.

Besides bullfighting, he also does cowboy protection for bull riders.

“When the bull rider comes off, I step in and make myself a better target for the bull,” Hankinson said.

Bullfighting judges look for aggression of the bull and bullfighter and mark up for daring maneuvers like jumping over the bull as it charges, event organizer Jim Hamsher said.

The 20 bulls at Saturday’s event ranged from 700-1,300 pounds, according to Hamsher.

Sixteen-year-old Miles Barry, another participant in Saturday’s event, said he has been bullfighting since he was 12. His father has been a professional bullfighter for 35 years, he said.

“It just kind of runs in the blood,” Barry said. “It’s just something that I love to do and love to watch.”

While he does wear armor when he goes into the arena, the padded vest, ankle braces and girdle Barry uses are less than most wear. He leaves off the knee braces others wear because he can move more freely without them, he said.

Despite the pads, Barry has sustained injuries. Last year he broke his tibia and fibia, which needed 12 screws and a plate to heal. He was back in the arena in eight months.

“It’s just an adrenaline rush you can’t get from anything else in the world,” he said.