13-year-old Nick Jackson makes history as 2020 Junior World Bull Riding Champion

Nicholas Jackson won the 2020 Junior World Bull Riding Finals in Texas last week, making the Maryland native the first champion from the Northeast to hold the title. Jackson, who has been riding mini bulls since he was seven, can now call himself a bull riding champion. The 13-year-old spoke to reporters about his first time riding.

“The first time I ever did it, I was a whole mix of different things,” he said. “I was excited, I was a little scared, but not too much.”

But being a cowboy seems to be in his DNA. Jackson is a fifth-generation cowboy from his mother’s side, according to his dad, Corey. What’s surprising is that unlike most other cowboys, Jackson is from Maryland.

“When we travel, folks are surprised to hear that we’re from Maryland,” Corey said. “The first thing they say is, ‘Wow, we didn’t know there were any cowboys in Maryland.’”

But Jackson is now the talk of the town. He explained that in bull riding, riders have to stay on for eight seconds. Within those eight seconds, riders should stay as controlled as possible without touching the bull with their free arm, he said.

And the Maryland teen did just that to emerge winner at last week’s championship. “It was an avalanche of emotion,” said Corey, who has since been celebrating his son’s victory. Jackson has acknowledged the support given to him by his family and friends while his dad is certain that this is first of many world championships for him.

Bull riding comes with dirt, pain and disappointment but many say it remains an addictive sport. In recent times, a lot of young people have come to love the sport. This year’s Junior World Finals was moved from Las Vegas to the Dallas area due to COVID-19 restrictions.