Mount Gambier’s James Keatley was born for rodeo, following in the footsteps of his father who was also a bull rider in his youth.

Keatley, 23, rides Division Two Bulls which can weigh up to 900 kilograms, holding on to a rope secured to the bovine with only one hand.

It was at the Penola Rodeo where he secured his personal best of 7.1 seconds, just shy of the eight seconds needed to qualify for the final round.

“I was right there which actually stung a bit,” he said.

“It felt like a lot longer than seven seconds.”

Keatley said he has always been interested in agriculture and rodeo.

“I worked at the saleyard since as long as I can remember when I was growing up and then I sort of moved away from that and now I work at a feedlot,” he said.

“I suppose I was always around (rodeo) and then grew up around it and … always enjoyed it, so I decided to get into it.

“I have always wanted to be around it, I have always wanted to be involved just watching and stuff, but then I took the leap 12 months ago and actually got on one myself.”

Despite rodeoing for over a year, the young rider said his mum first watched him perform at the Dartmoor Rodeo earlier this month.

“She’s always avoided coming and watching,” he said.

“She has her concerns but now she’s sort of come around.”

Keatley said his parents initially shared similar reactions to his bull riding.

“I think dad was a bit worried at the start … and he was a bit concerned but then he’s come around to it,” he said.

“He loves it.”

Keatley said the first time he geared up to ride a bull was an impulse decision at Branxholme.

“I just decided the night before that I wanted to do it and then sort of managed to make it happen,” he said.

“There was not a lot of riders, so they were sort of looking for a few more and then I managed to get on one which never really happens, but it just so happened to work out that way which is good for me.

“It was just one of those things that worked out and just kept going.”

The young gun has since also rodeoed at the ‘rodeo capital of the world’ Mount Isa, located in the heart of outback Queensland.

Keatley is now based in Bendigo but said it was “unreal” to ride in rodeos close to his home town.

“It’s the best, like at Penola I knew there was people I knew in the crowd,” he said.

“A lot of my mates had gone down to catch up with me and watch me ride and it just brought something extra to the table.

“It’s always fun to ride but it’s a lot more fun when there’s people there you know watching.”

Keatley said it was just as much about the rodeo community and the towns it supports, as the sport itself.

“You see people you have not seen in 10 years or so going to these shows,” he said.

“That’s one of the best things about it plus the rodeos are so good for the community like the Penola Rodeo raised so much money.

“It’s just one of those events that just does so much good, and it brings a lot of people together and you realise the amount of people that volunteer and people that donate stuff and sponsor it.

“It’s one of those things that started off as a sport but now it’s one of those staples, especially down where we are, Mount Gambier is around a few really good ones like Penola, Dartmoor and Branxholme.

“Just continue to support those ones because if they do not stick around those communities are going to suffer.”

Despite riding a horse at the feedlot where he works, Keatley decided to skip the broncs and jump straight on a bull.

“It would not be uncommon for me to be on a horse four out of those seven days,” he said.

“I have always been more interested in the bulls to be honest.

“I have always liked watching the broncs, but I have always wanted to see what it’s like to ride a bull.”

The amateur bull rider said it was a case of holding on, moving with the animal, and trying to predict their next move.

“You’re just holding on and you do not realise how strong they are, like they just move, and you have got to move with them,” he said.

“You have got to treat them like a dancing partner and try to count on what they’re going to do all the time.

“The first couple of times I got on it was just all reaction like not having any idea of what they’re going to do.

“Now that I have done it a couple more times you have a bit of an idea of what they’re going to do and how you’re going to sit and how you’re going to rise and all that sort of stuff.”

Keatley said above all he just wanted to keep enjoying the sport.

“It’s one of those things like as soon as you stop enjoying it, you might as well not do it,” he said.

“As much as I’m enjoying it at the moment I just hope that keeps going.

“If you have got the heart to do it and you’re curious, you might as well have a crack.

“No one will knock you for trying.”