IPRA 2007 World Champion Bareback Rider

Billy Griffin

“Third time’s a charm” proved to be true for the 32-year-old Lee’s Sommit, MO native who claimed his first world title at IFR38.  Griffin first came on the IPRA scene in 2005 when he earned the Rookie of the Year title and has been on the IFR roster ever since.

Griffin started riding broncs as a kid.  “My Dad and uncle were always trading horses and my cousin started riding the ones that bucked and then I gave it a try.  Before long, they were buying practice horses for us to ride and it eventually grew into a rodeo company, then we were their test pilots for the rodeo horses.  I hear some guys complain about re-rides and I just laugh to myself, re-rides are no problem with me, bring them on, that’s how I started in this business,” remarks Griffin.

“It has been a long, hard year and I am glad it is over, now I can get some rest,” said Griffin regarding the 2007 rodeo season.  “I had a horse slam my shoulder pretty bad in the fall and that gave me some problems.  The All-Region finals in Florida were good for me and I was happy with the horses I drew at the IFR.  I just wished I hadn’t missed my third round horse out, but it all worked out.”

Griffin drew a fourth place check in round one of IFR competition with an 80 point ride aboard High Rise from the Latting Rodeo string.  A 77.5 point ride aboard Firecracker from Hampton Rodeo Company failed to place Griffin in the second round.  The third round draw, Molly Brown from Ken Treadway Rodeo Company was the horse Griffin received his “no score” on.  He rallied back in the fourth round when he turned in an 82 point ride aboard Little Wolf from Rawhide Rodeo Company to split the round with Josh Cragar.

“The IFR awards banquet was on my wife, Janise’s birthday.  I felt bad that the day turned out to be about me and not her like it should have been.”

Griffin is optimistic about 2008, “I want to go to the winter Longhorn rodeos and just take it one month at a time.  I have a new hauling partner and I’m excited about traveling with him.  I miss my family when I’m gone, that’s the only down side of traveling a lot.”