Simi Valley Days Mutton-Busting Honors Go to 6-Year-Old Hanger-On : Entertainment: More than 5,000 people attend rodeo, carnival and performance events marking the final day of activities.

Kid cowboy Randall Marchessault was the undeniable lamb-riding champ at the Simi Valley Days rodeo Sunday.

No matter how hard his lamb kicked and bucked, the 6-year-old from Newbury Park held on until rodeo hands finally pulled him off after a stellar, 15-second ride.

His secret?

“I grabbed onto his ears and put my legs around him,” said Randy, a first-timer in the Mutton Buster contest.

Randall’s father stood in amused awe of his son’s previously undiscovered skills, which he captured on video.

“It’s just the start of a long career,” Kevin Marchessault said. “He’s a fine Mutton Buster.”

Randall left the competition with a shiny winner’s belt buckle. But the event didn’t come so easy for the dozen other kids in the 4- to 7-year-old category.

Max lasted only a second or two. Michael was trampled by one and cried, Joey landed on his shoulder and got all dirty, Kristin got a hoof in her mouth, and John’s lamb wouldn’t budge.

John had to be pried away from his stationary mount. To the glee of the audience, rodeo hands had to use all their might to loosen John’s grip from the little lamb.

None of the youngsters was seriously hurt.

Mutton busting was just one of several rodeo, carnival and performance events that drew more than 5,000 people to the final day of Simi Valley Days.

Many came for the adult bareback bronco riding, steer wrestling and cute cowboys.

“Lawyers are OK, but if you want a real man, you got to come down and see the cowboys,” said Noelle Tschudy, 25, of Beverly Hills.

Ray Szymonek of Chatsworth agreed.

“They look nice in their jeans,” he said.

Szymonek said the excitement of rodeo competition keeps him coming back for more.

“There’s so much action,” he said. “You never know what will happen next. It keeps me on the edge of my seat.”

Danny Kimenez, 9, of Simi Valley especially liked the Wild West gunfight that preceded the rodeo.

“It’s cool,” Danny said. “It’s better than watching cartoons.”

Bruce Taylor also thinks that the gunfights are cool. He’s been participating in them for nearly 20 years.

“Most of us are amateur historians, really,” said the Simi Valley plumber, who played a bank robber during the Wild West skit. “And it’s definitely an escape from reality.”

But for animal rights activists, the reality of rodeos is that they are cruel to animals. About 17 activists were escorted from the rodeo when they unrolled a large banner protesting the event.

“The animals are prodded and terrorized just to amuse people,” said Marge Hackett of Ojai. “It’s just plain cruel.”

And for those less interested in watching animals wrestled and tied up, there was the three-hour performance by the girls of Rosalie’s School of Dance.

That’s where the majority of proud parents and grandparents spent the day, watching their children dressed up like Shirley Temple, mermaids and teen-agers, dancing to a variety of show tunes and favorite Disney soundtracks.

Some stumbled, others lost their places; they all shimmied. But for many in the audience, it was the cute-quotient that mattered most.

“All the girls do a fantastic job for their age,” said proud grandfather Chuck Wilson of Chatsworth. “They’re taught with love by Rosalie.”