2008 Woodie Awards
Clemson Rodeo goes pro
CU Block and Bridle Club to host first competition in six years.
By: Jennifer Salane
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
The Clemson University Rodeo Club (CURC) will host the first professional rodeo sponsored by a student club in more than six years on April 18 and 19.
Clemson students will be competing in this event, run by a branch of the Clemson (CU) Block and Bridle Club, which is the parent organization of CURC.
The Rodeo Club expects to draw crowds numbering in the thousands.
Alec Davern, vice president of the CU Block and Bridle Club, is the chairman of the CURC Spring 2006-2007 and the co-event coordinator for the rodeo.
The current chairpersons of the CURC are Jessica Lordi and Rachel Johnson.
A rodeo is held at the T. Ed Garrison Arena twice a year, organized by a private party outside of the University.
"In its heyday, the CURC was one of the largest recognized student clubs on campus," said Davern.
"Over the past ten years, interest declined severely, and leaders decided to join forces with the CU Block & Bridle Club. The CURC is now, despite its name, a committee under the CU Block and Bridle Club with two chairmen and around 30 paid members."
With the declining membership, the arena became less used and fell to disrepair.
"It has been a tremendous effort in the past year-and-a-half to get the facility updated and ready to go again," Davern said.
"We held one small barrel race last May, had some success, and we are now ready to tackle a large event."
According to Davern, the CURC is in charge of the maintenance and promotion of the outdoor arena located at the intersection of Highway 76 and Woodburn Road in Pendleton.
"We [the club] have been working hard for the past year to restore the arena to its full working condition," said Davern. "We feel it is finally updated and cleaned up enough to handle an event of this magnitude."
Clemson students routinely ride the professional rodeo circuit, including Ben Strait for bareback bronc riding, Jessica Lordi for team roping and Alec Davern for team roping/calf roping.
There is no qualification process required and each of the riders are expected to compete this year.
Clemson students will be competing in this event, run by a branch of the Clemson (CU) Block and Bridle Club, which is the parent organization of CURC.
The Rodeo Club expects to draw crowds numbering in the thousands.
Alec Davern, vice president of the CU Block and Bridle Club, is the chairman of the CURC Spring 2006-2007 and the co-event coordinator for the rodeo.
The current chairpersons of the CURC are Jessica Lordi and Rachel Johnson.
A rodeo is held at the T. Ed Garrison Arena twice a year, organized by a private party outside of the University.
"In its heyday, the CURC was one of the largest recognized student clubs on campus," said Davern.
"Over the past ten years, interest declined severely, and leaders decided to join forces with the CU Block & Bridle Club. The CURC is now, despite its name, a committee under the CU Block and Bridle Club with two chairmen and around 30 paid members."
With the declining membership, the arena became less used and fell to disrepair.
"It has been a tremendous effort in the past year-and-a-half to get the facility updated and ready to go again," Davern said.
"We held one small barrel race last May, had some success, and we are now ready to tackle a large event."
According to Davern, the CURC is in charge of the maintenance and promotion of the outdoor arena located at the intersection of Highway 76 and Woodburn Road in Pendleton.
"We [the club] have been working hard for the past year to restore the arena to its full working condition," said Davern. "We feel it is finally updated and cleaned up enough to handle an event of this magnitude."
Clemson students routinely ride the professional rodeo circuit, including Ben Strait for bareback bronc riding, Jessica Lordi for team roping and Alec Davern for team roping/calf roping.
There is no qualification process required and each of the riders are expected to compete this year.
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