Bull headed

Bull rider Erik Bala of Ellensburg gets ready to dismount just as photographer Biffle French makes a big mistake at at the end of the last ride of the last event of the 57th Colorama Rodeo Saturday night. Fans got extra excitement after Bala, the eighth and last bull rider and the only one to hang on eight seconds, rode all the way across the arena — just before the bull escaped as French opened the gate to the warmup arena. The 1,600-pound bull crashed through the gate and rumbled behind the food concession, tipped over an outhouse, then headed for the hills just as a cowboy managed to get a rope on him. Ridge Riders President George Kohout said between that and the rattlesnake in the new beer garden, it made for a great rodeo. French was bloodied a little, but he was OK. — Scott Hunter photo