Rodeo Shot - focussing issue - critique needed plz

Hi there,

yesterday my wife and I went to the rodeo about 140km from home and our first rodeo and definately won't be our last .
It was the first time I have used AI Servo and 1st time I have ever shot fast action. My question's aside from wanting a critique of this shot are

1. Why is this shot soft or out of focus even though AI Servo was used.

1a. I used Shutter Priority 1/500sec for this shot should I have used 1/1000sec?

2. If I could have got closer (we forgot chairs ) would that push the people or background out of focus?

Comments positive and negative most welcome. I added some grain in pp I wanted a gritty look if that makes sense.

Settings were:

ISO 400
1/500sec
f/6.3
Shutter Priority
350D with 70-200 f/4 L

Regards Darren

Did you PP this pic I would like to see the original first.

If you open your apeture wide open by adjusting your shutter speed up this should help, also with bluring the background.

1. I suspect camera shake.
1a. I believe this type of event is best caught using fastest shutter you can with the lens you have (makes focus all the more critical to get right).
2. Yes, for any given aperture, the closer you are to the action the more out of focus the background will be.

I think you're onto something with the grain and choice of colour - like the image...

Thanks all will post the original later. I will also endevour to get closer.

Regards Darren