Grady Young’s 88.5 ride leads George Paul opening night in Del Rio

Grady Young put Del Rio’s opening night on edge with an 88.5-point ride Friday at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, enough to lead the George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bull Riding short round and claim the bulk of the night’s payout. Young made the score aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeos bull Richard Cranium in a field of 10 riders, a performance that carried real weight in a sport where a high-80s ride can separate a payday from an early exit.

The ride also put the Saskatchewan, Canada, cowboy in strong position heading into Saturday’s final round. Young had already shown elite form earlier this year with a 91.5-point ride at the Calgary Stampede, a mark that made his Del Rio score stand out even if it was not his season best. In bull riding, the difference between 88.5 and the rest of the pack can be measured in money, momentum and the kind of crowd reaction that turns one trip into the night’s defining moment.

That is part of why the George Paul Memorial matters so much in Val Verde County. The event honors George Paul, the 1968 Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion bull rider from Del Rio, and the 2026 edition marked the 48th annual George Paul Memorial Xtreme Bull Riding. The event was scheduled for Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, both nights at 8 p.m. at 2006 N. Main St., with Whitehead Memorial Museum serving as presenter.

The George Paul name carries national weight in rodeo circles. Event organizers have described it as the oldest continuous stand-alone bull riding in the world, while Cowboy Channel coverage has called it the world’s longest running bull riding event. That history helped frame Friday night’s action as more than a single score. It was another chapter in a Del Rio tradition that has drawn top riders, local families and rodeo fans into one of the community’s biggest weekends.

The stakes were larger again this year. The 2026 purse was reported at a record $45,000, up 21% from the previous year. The winner also was set to receive the George Paul buckle, and the high-marked ride of the week earned a custom rifle courtesy of Cactus Weapon Systems. The official event site also said general-admission tickets were not sold online, a detail that kept the experience rooted at the fairgrounds itself, where the George Paul weekend once again gave Del Rio a night of high scores, heavy betting on talent and the kind of hometown event that still commands attention.