Blake Cross needs no introduction as he is setting the Rodeo World alight and is the son of Rodeo Royalty Troy Cross.
Blake has been picking up buckles and cash prizes as he continues on his winning ways.
The Times caught up with Troy who was as proud as punch of his son’s achievements, highlighting his success.
“My young fella, Blake, 16, is doing the Australian Pro Rodeo Association rodeo circuit.
“He has been competing as a Junior and a Novice. When you’re a novice, once you win so much money, you break open, and I think it is $6000, but they have to be 18 until you can break open.
Blake is well past this target and picked up the
figure in one weekend.
“He has already won his money four or five times over.
“That is all he does. He left school and he won over $10,000 in a month.
“He rides really well, he presents himself well and he’s really humble and he’s one guy that is eye catching anyway. He’s one to watch it out for. He’s the talk of the circuit!
Troy Cross has his own career history and is also a farrier working independently and at local studs.
“I’ve been retired from the bull riding game in a circuit way for a long time, but I still get on them every now and then, it’s good for the soul.
“I got on a few this year actually, and I was riding really, really well. I had the Rodeo For Life, I help out a lot with that, the richest paying bull ride in the country at Wollongong.
“I rode well but it ripped me down, smashed my face and I couldn’t get on for the $60,000.
Troy would have gone close to claiming the purse such was his form, but joked its a young man’s game.
“I’m too old for it now, I’m 38 years old. I’m too tattered, too many injuries. That was five weeks ago. Blake rode juniors and I always try to get in the top 40 in the country to ride down there. I rode in the masters bull ride. They invited 10 of the best retired old fellas, and it is pretty much the same as the young fellas, because they haven’t been riding that well in the open bull riding, and put this on. There was 31 open bull riders, and there was no scores, and 10 masters bull riders like myself, and we rode 7 out of 10. We opened a few eyes because they think we are old dills. The young fellas don’t understand that you’ve been doing it 25 years.
“It was good to be a part of, because Ben Jones, Jason O’Hearn, the world’s best were there and it was just good to be invited and be part of.
“Young Blake’s never home, he goes his own way. He’s staying up north. He’s up at Townsville at the moment. He will stay out there for probably seven or eight more weeks and do Mount Isa and Cloncurry and Richmond and a few others.
“Blake won the BBA (Bucking Bulls Australia) Junior bull riding title, he won the M5 Super Series Pro Rodeo Junior Bull Riding title. He won another title up in Brisbane at the Rodeo Stampede finals the other week.
“He was leading the Novice and the Junior titles, but he ended up winning the Junior bull riding Stampede title.
“He just finished the APRA National finals, he ran 4th and he was 3rd aggregate in the average in the steer riding and the junior bull riding on the weekend up at Emerald.
“I reckon next year will be his year to win the title.
“He’s looking to go to Texas College when he’s 18. He will do a scholarship over there. There’s heaps of scholarships just depending on where they want to go and what they want to do.
Blake is also great with his hands and is an excellent welder.
“He’s making a good living off it. He’s been offered apprenticeships in welding. He makes cages for helmets, spurs and stuff like that. He’s unreal with metal, but he doesn’t want to be stuck inside all day.
Troy wants Blake to experience the world and continue to grow in his chosen field. Rodeo runs deep in the Cross family and Troy is happy seeing Blake happy. At such a young age he has the world at his feet.
Troy joked, “He earns enough money riding bulls. He’s bringing home a few grand most weekends. He earns more money than me sometimes.
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