Drury makes R.C. return to PRCA

By Jeff Easton, Journal Sports Writer | Monday, August 25, 2003

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RAPID CITY -- There aren't many people in this world who appreciate hopping on a bull's back, a ton of churning muscle and bone that would like nothing more than to toss you off its back and then give you a little send-off with hoof or horn.

But that's how Shane Drury felt as he climbed onto the back of a bull named Levenworth during Saturday night's final performance of the Range Days Rodeo.

In a sport where riders, ropers and racers travel long distances to compete two or three times on any given weekend, miles cannot measure how far Drury has come. Sixteen months ago, the Stapleton, Neb., cowboy took on the biggest challenge of his life; overcoming the cancer that cost him four ribs and a piece of lung.

But it was bull riding that kept Drury going, even during the darkest days of chemotherapy, surgery and doctor visits that helped him get healthy again.

"It was something I thought about every day," said Drury, 24, before he made his ride Saturday night. "I'm healthy now and happy, and I just want to keep on going."

Things began to go sour for Drury in April 2002. The former Rapid City Central wrestling standout couldn't shake what he thought was a chronic back problem that had plagued him for a couple months. After his back swelled up, Drury paid a visit to a doctor and he discovered he had a form of Ewing's Sarcoma, a cancer of the bone and soft tissue.

The cancer stopped Drury, who was then one of bull riding's rising stars, in his tracks.

"Shane was at the top of his game," Range Days Rodeo announcer Rorey Lemmel said. "At the top of the world."

"I couldn't believe it," Drury said, peering toward the ground as he leaned against a pick-up parked near the Grandstand Arena at the Central States Fairground.

"It was a hard thing to grasp.

"You take it one day at a time. My wife and family supported me through everything. You just go on and start to appreciate the little things."

Drury, who was less than 18 months removed from competing in the PRCA's biggest show, the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, endured two sessions of chemotherapy sandwiched around surgery on his ribs and lung as he fought against his cancer. "It wasn't fun. There's other things I'd rather be doing," he said with a little smile.

Then came the waiting game. Waiting for the chemo to do its work. Waiting for his surgery to heal. Waiting to see if the cancer had been beaten. Waiting to get back on a bull.

Finally cancer free and now making visits to the doctor for tests every three months, Drury began to lift weights, run and ride in recent months as he prepared to make his comeback.

"My wife kept on my butt," he said, his warm smile paying another visit.

In July, Drury climbed back on a bull in competition for the first time in 15 months at the Pretty Prairie Rodeo in Hutchinson, Kan.

Lemmel, who teamed with Bob Tallman to announce the Range Days Rodeo, is amazed that Drury has made the comeback to bull riding, an event he calls the toughest in the world.

"For him to come back and ride bulls is David versus Goliath," Lemmel said. "It shocked me."

But Lemmel isn't all that surprised that Drury is back on the PRCA circuit. "Anybody who knows that family, knows Shane, knew he'd be back."

"His middle name is 'Try,'" added Tallman.

On a warm night filled with excitement but few changes among the leaders, Drury climbed aboard Levenworth as cheers the crowd of over 5,000 grew. The black-and-white bull battled Drury throughout the eight seconds of his ride. When the score of 82 popped up on the scoreboard, Drury tossed his black hat into the air and pointed to the sky as the crowd roared its approval.

"He had me hustling the whole time," Drury said afterwards.

"I get nervous before every ride, but there's no pressure. I survived cancer, so you have to do your thing and let God take care of you."

The biggest change among top marks on Saturday came in barrel racing. Newcastle, Wyo., cowgirl Lonnie Soderberg sped through the course in 17.47 second to grab second-place money in the event.

The only other change came in bull riding, where Drury and Travis Burian used their scores of 82 to jump into a fourth-place tie with Rapid City's Jason Hunsaker.

The check Drury pocketed for his efforts during the final performance on Saturday may not have amounted much compared to the money he was making during his pre-cancer days. But he sees it on another step on the road to reaching his ultimate goal, making another trip to the NFR.

"Ultimately my goal is to be a world champion," he said. "That's tough, but you go through life and you learn there's more to life than riding bulls."

UNOFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS

After Saturday's performance

Bareback-1, Scott Montague, Fruitdale, 84; Daron Lacina, Hettinger, N.D. 83; 3 (tie), Darren Clarke, Lewisville, Tex., Trey Fischer, Madisonville, Tex., Tim Shirley, Conifer, Colo., and Clay Volmer, Rapid City, 81.

Steer Wrestling-1, Ivan Tiegen, Camp Crook, 3.9; 2 (tie) Denver Gilbert, Buffalo, and Todd Williamson 4.5; 4 (tie), Justen Nokes, McCook, Neb., Ryan Richardson, Long Valley, and Jeff Johnson, Thedford, Neb., 4.7.

Calf Roping-1, Ray Brown, North Platte, Neb., 8.8; 2, Travis Caldwell, Billings, Mont, 8.9; 3, Will LaDuke, Gillette, 9.1; 4, Chris Downey, Cheyenne, 9.4.

Saddle Bronc-1, Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, 86; 2 (tie), Alan Bandy, Prince Albert, Sask., and Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, 84; 4, Matt Marvel, Battle Mtn. Nev., 81.

Team Roping-1, J.D. Yates and Jay Wadhams, Pueblo, Colo, 4.6; 2, Wade Nelson, Faith and Jeff Nelson, Philip, 5.4; Britt Williams, Hammond, Mont, and Derick Fleming, Dillon, Mont., 5.5; 4, Garrett Nokes, McCook, Neb., and Ty Talsma, Springfield, 5.8.

Barrel Racing-1, Deb Thompson, Gordon, Neb., 17.30; 2, Lonnie Soderberg, Newcastle, Wyo., 17.47; 3, Penney Minor, Gordon, Neb., 17.61; 4, Kappy Allen, Austin, Tex., 17.63.

Bull Riding-1, Dewey O'Dea, Sturgis, 87; 2, Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, 86; 3, Fred Boettcher, Tomah, Wis., 85; 4, Jason Hunsaker, Rapid City; Shane Drury, Stapleton, Neb.; and Travis Burian, Terry, Mont., 82.

Contact Easton at 394-8440 or at jeff.easton@rapidcityjournal.com