Billy Griffin lived up to his ranking Saturday night at the seventh annual Perry County Community Rodeo.

The cowboy from Lee's Summit, Mo., led the International Professional Rodeo Association's standings in bareback bronc riding heading into this weekend's competitions.

On Saturday, he put together an eventful ride to score an 81 and earn the first of seven championships that were to be awarded in Perry County's rodeo.

The rodeo in Altenburg had special significance for Matt Cissell, a bull rider from Perryville who made his return to competition for the first time since suffering a serious neck injury last August at a rodeo in Springfield, Ill. He did not ride the required 8 seconds Friday to post a score.

"It was real nerve-racking, but I had a lot of support behind me," Cissell said.