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Name: Tim Hammond
Answers to: Hammo
Region: Murray
Team Snowy Yrs: 10
The purpose of this month’s Snowy Star wrap is to highlight a rare snowy talent.
My first Q&A with a 'real' Cowboy!
BP: Hi, Tim, I’m Brad.
TH: ‘G’Day, Brad, howdy.’
BP: So, mate, what are your interests?
TH: Well, I’m a professional bronc rider!
BP: Oh, yeah, what’s that! (Hey, I’m from Sydney).
TH: If I stay riding a horse for 8-seconds, and I ‘sort of’ look like I’m in control, well, I score well and beat other Cowboys!
BP: 8 seconds! So what if you don’t stay on, or look like you’re in control?
TH: Well, put it this way, the horse is bred, usually gelded, and then trained to buck you off, quickly, violently, and then take exception to you being on in the first place, so usually you’ll get kicked, stomped, or headbutted once you’re off!
BP: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TH: I mainly ride saddle class, but I also like bareback! You know, when you grab hold of their mane, which, they don’t seem to like, much!
BP: No, I don’t know!
TH: Oh, and I’ve spent time in the States riding Bulls! The ‘big ones’ can really jam down on you hard! But it was pro riding in the Texas where I grew to specialise riding Broncs!
BP: OK, given we’ve only got half a page, can you give me your top three (‘ridin’) injuries!
TH: Mate, I been pretty lucky! I mean, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t sport a purple glowing bruise, usually from kicks, but, other than the odd broken bone, my head has luckily escaped serious whacks (I'm not sure about that).
BP: Yeah, lucky!
BP: So, how does the comp work? Last man alive!
TH: Na, that’s funny!, (I wasn't being funny). So, it’s heat, semi’s & finals, and each ride you’ve got 8-Seconds to impress the judges. If you make 8-seconds, you score bonus points, but ultimately your style and control are scored! It’s mostly about finding rhythm with the horse, kinda like spurring forward and backwards with your feet. The Australian Saddle Bronc Riding Championship is a series of events (64 this year), which, with one round to go, I’m in first place, but only just! I’ve won 5 events this season, and while my podiums in the States are career highlights, winning an Aussie title would rank right up there. I live in Khancoban and travel to each event for 2-3 days – Snowy has been great allowing me this time to compete.
BP: So, Tim, how on earth can I help you! Would you like to borrow my cycling helmet?
TH: Na, at 29, I reckon I can sharpen up my skills, and win the season, with just a bit of additional training and preparation.
Tim’s Training Principles.
* Train daily, but only for 15-20 minutes.
* Challenge coordination & balance, always – more than focussing on raw strength & aesthetics.
* Use, only, free weights (dumbbells) and balance equipment like bosu balls, swiss balls, and wobble boards.
* Once the technique is mastered, close eyes to make it harder again. It's all about the practicing the counterbalance.
* Focus more on holding balanced strength through a range of movement, opposed to holding static stretches, alone.
I’ll post out Tim’s year ending result next flow. Good luck, Tim.
