Published: October 10, 2007 11:22 am      

Keith Isley performs at bullfight finals

The World Championship Rodeo Bullfight Finals and Concert will be Friday Oct. 19 and Saturday Oct. 20 at Pontotoc County Agri-plex. Concerts begin each night at 7 p.m. and the bullfights at 8 p.m.

The events are sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation.

The nation’s Top 15 bullfighters will compete for the world championship against Rex Dunn’s “Famous Fighting Bulls.” Bullfighters will be competing for a $22,500 purse, a gold buckle valued at $4,500 and a championship trophy.

The Stamps Quartet will perform their Southern Gospel music at 7 p.m. Friday, and country music star T.G. Sheppard will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday.

No. 1 rodeo clown Keith Isley and eight-time “Speciality Act of the Year” John Payne, the one-armed bandit, will perform.

Hadley Barrett, the “voice” of the World Championship Finals and Hall of Fame radio announcer, will call the action.

Advance tickets are $15 and went on sale Monday at Steppin’ Out Western Store and Sharpe’s Department Store in Ada. Seating is limited so purchase your tickets early.

For additional information, phone (405) 207-8634.

Isley has spent years impressing audiences around North America with his array of talents, ranging from trick riding and comedy acts to work as a clown and barrelman.

Recently a the PRCA’s annual Contract Awards Banquet, Isley's efforts were recognized on three different occasions, earning honors as the Coors Man in the Can, PRCA Clown of the Year and Specialty Dress Act of the Year during ceremonies at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Isley, a PRCA member since 1994, had previously been honored six times as the PRCA's top specialty act — the last coming in 2004 in the comedy category — but never had the resident of Reidsville, N.C., enjoyed such a night of prolific success.

"This is unbelievable," Isley said. "When I saw who I was nominated against, I picked out the winners and they definitely weren't me. I'm just a small part of a large group of people who make things work."