Barber by day, bull rider by night: Extraordinary Aussie Budd Williamson
Budd Williamson has made a living out something others might call sheer craziness.
Williamson, a local barber from Ayr in Queensland, has been a professional bull rider for 10 years and has competed around Australia and in the United States.
Talking with 2GB’s Chris Smith, Williamson reveals how this crazy passion started.
“From day dot I can remember riding a bucket, a dog or whatever I could get my legs around.
“My dad rode bulls and I grew up around cattle and horses. He was always putting me on cattle… and I got hooked on it.
“I guess you can say it was just in my blood.”
Unsurprisingly, it’s not as an easy sport to get into.
“You’ve got to have the want and desire and kind of a bit of craziness.”
And as far as injuries go, Williamson jokes there isn’t enough time to list them all but mentions he’s had 11 broken ribs, two punctured lungs, two shoulder reconstructions and a facial reconstruction which has left him with three plates and 14 screws in his face.
But despite all this, his passion for this unique sport remains unbroken.
“It’s an addiction.
“Once you get that bug in you it’s hard to shake off.”
Listen to the full interview below