Local bull rider at national rodeo event

CASPER, Wyo — Stratford resident Colby Reilly will compete in the bull riding event this week at the 59th annual College National Finals Rodeo at the Casper Events Center.

Reilly, a sophomore at Walla Walla Community College, will be competing alongside the best collegiate-level cowboys and cowgirls from the United States and Canada. The National Finals Rodeo includes nine traditional events — saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying.

Competitors will be chasing over $200,000 in scholarship awards from the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Scholarship Awards Program.

The event began Sunday evening and continues through Saturday at the Casper Events Center. All evening rounds begin at 7 p.m., including Saturday's championship round, which will be televised later this summer on College Sports Television Network.

— Staff report