In just two years, mini cowboy Carl Douglas Junior has gone from small Kowanyama rodeos to being ranked seventh in the world. Photo: Supplied.
Cape York is rolling out the welcome mats for two little champions as they step back onto Australian soil after competing at the 2025 International Miniature Bullriders Association World Finals.
Kowanyama’s Carl “Marno” Douglas Jnr and Hope Vale’s Tyson “TJ” Ford got their taste of the world stage in Utah earlier this month as part of team Borghero Mini Buckers representing Australia, with Douglas Jnr and Ford both putting Cape York on the map as some of the best mini bull riders in the world.
Also recruited for the team was Hope Vale cowboy Kaileb Kyle, who unfortunately had to pull out following an injury at August’s Mount Isa Rodeo.
Ten-year-old Douglas Jnr was welcomed back to community with a parade last week after placing third in the finals and ranking seventh in the world.
“It’s massive, and sometimes I’m speechless,” mum Valma Lawrence said.
“It was a really different feeling [watching him], because the international rodeo was something really big, and it was a whole different scenery for us.”
Although it was a whole new ball game, she said her mini cowboy did not let the international competition pressure get to him.
“I’ve never, ever seen him nervous; he doesn’t get scared of riding mini bulls or jumping on a steer, because he trusts himself when he’s riding,” she said.
“We always pray together, so he has a strong spiritual feeling, that connection with the Lord, because I’ve taught my kids how to pray from a very little age, and how to always ask God for the strength.”
Ms Lawrence said she was impressed with how he performed, with Douglas Jnr only having started bull riding two years ago, and dealing with the challenges of practice in a remote community.
“You could say it’s natural talent, all of my kids are gifted,” she said.
“He hardly gets any practice; sometimes we’ll go down to one of his aunties’ place and jump on the [bucking] drum there, but I can’t believe this kid don’t practice and he rides really well.”
She said the tournament in Utah was an incredible experience, both for the young riders and for the parents.
“He found a good rodeo family … all the boys knew each other from chasing the rodeos around here in Australia, and they all felt comfortable around each other,” Ms Lawrence said.
“It was a really good experience for us [as parents] as well, going to the other side of the world, and to see your child competing at this level, especially being so young, it’s a dream come true.
“We just want to continue to support him wherever life takes him as he’s growing in his bull riding career.”
Although 11-year-old Ford was bucked off before the eight second buzzer on day one, his stellar performance in other rounds, including a win on day two, ranked the cowboy at fifth in the world.
“His nerves definitely got the better of him on the first day; you could see the size difference and the speed difference in the bulls, and I think that may have contributed to a little bit of stage fright,” mum Ashleigh Oberluter said.
“By the second day, everybody’s nerves sort of started to fade … TJ, he was very lucky and he had a very good ride, so well that he ended up taking out the second round.”
Ms Oberluter said she could not accompany Ford on the trip, who instead went with his aunt, adding the experience had helped her young son gain confidence and independence.
“I think it’s served him really well to grow, to be able to ride in a whole new country without his support network, which is his immediate family,” she said.
“Being able to have a really good ride, good points and a good outcomes is a really big confidence booster for him, and for the whole team, knowing that it can be done, the Australian team can do it.
“I’m just really proud that he didn’t give up, and he was able to show everybody the potential he has.”
The Hope Vale School will celebrate Ford’s achievement with a special parade and community barbeque on 10 October from 8:30am.
Hope Vale’s Tyson “TJ” Ford celebrates a win on day two after a shaky start at the 2025 International Miniature Bullriders Association World Finals. Photo: Supplied.
