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It has been great having the monthly TV program on Foxtel’s Aurora featuring Australian Rodeo to country wide audiences. This is a tremendous boost for the sport and most important showing the care we are taking with all the animals involved. I certainly would prefer to be either horse or beast in the rodeo stockyards than on the banks of some river waiting to cross over in annual migration with the crocodiles all set to put an end to your trip. Then it’s not over as you live in all your waking hours.
It is the Year of the Horse in astrology so let’s make full use of it. I note on the N.I.T.V they have been playing action at some of the Canadian Rodeos and the last one I watched was about riding event contestants in the 11th place hoping to qualify for their National Finals Rodeo. Thinking it was to be the Hollywood Film style of happy ending the contestants involved sure took a beating and are planning for next year’s competition.
When the February Rodeo News came out in the riders standings it was a similar result for 15th place in both riding and time events with the margin in the bull riding totals being only $9.35. This was between Sam Champ from Queensland and Toby Collins from Victoria. Now I know there is still to be able 25 championship fixtures still to be recorded but it should be a hotly contested race to the Finals. In something of a coincidence Paul Emerson and Lee Kimber in the rope and tie are only $12.50 apart while in the steer wrestling the separation is $12.40 between Casey Lillyman and Allen Heath.
From the last intake of official results there has been some change but they have to be checked by Karen in the office at the Rodeo Heritage Centre. She performs a highly important task and I think it gets more complicated as each year passes. With the change of venue this season to Caboolture and the introduction of a new points system as against prize money totals give everyone of the qualifiers a chance of becoming a National Champion. At the moment I have results from rodeos from 5 states so will just select a number of points of interest.
At the Warragul Rodeo, Victoria on the 1st of last month Cherie O’Donoghue came close to the new record time of 1.85 seconds when she won with a 1.90 from Anna McPhee on a 2.20 and Christie Bavistock on 2.35. She claimed all around honours with a 2nd in the barrel race to Leslie Moore and Tamlin Osborne 3rd. At the same rodeo Brad Pierce after a break made his presence felt when he won the saddle bronc riding from David Stacey and Toby Collins was just a point away from Roy Dunn on the bulls.
This was the late Peter Evison’s Memorial with team roping winners Elley Hulls and Daniel Kapeller being presented in recognition for a man who did so much for the sport.
Also another presentation was made to the winner of the junior barrel race in memory of Carol Bookluck whose family have played an integral role in the Victorian rodeo scene. The winner was Ellie Gard with the excellent time of 14.910 seconds from Ben Gard.
Overseas to Harveydale Rodeo, Tasmania. Sally Malay had another busy time of it, winning 1st in both junior steer riding and the breakaway roping plus a 4th in both the 2nd division bull ride and the junior barrel race.
Another fine performance was by Cheyenne Whitwell who won 2nd in the junior and 1st in the breakaway roping contests with times of 3.10 seconds and 2.80 in the open with former title holder Karen Fish Jnr runner up 2nd with a 3.15 and Georgie Kapeller 3rd with a 3.30.
At Ulverstone which is now the major rodeo in the state with a purse of $1800 in the major events and a total of 6 in the 2nd division and the junior backed up the next day at Harveydale it makes it a popular weekend.
2nd Division rider Cody Ballard had a really successful date as besides winning the 2nd division saddle bronc from Calvin Saunders and Ty King he split the open event with Brad Pierce and they won from Brad with his ride on Mick Wyllie’s ‘Spider Monkey’ in the open bull riding.
Of note has been the Tasmanian rider Gary King’s strong showing in the team roping with 3 wins to his credit and placing he has moved into the NFR qualifiers as a head roper the best being at Finley, NSW with Daniel Kapeller on the heels. He first joined up in 1986 and has roped consistently ever since.
Another of the old timers came back. Scott Fraser from Wilmington, SA who on his info sheet can boast 8 wins in the bareback at Mt Isa, 2 in bull riding and 1 in the saddle bronc. A feat never matched at this major centre. To date he has had wins and placings in all 3 roughstock contests.
I enjoyed Sarah Connley’s article on the Omeo Rodeo and the build up to this year’s popular attraction always stage on the Easter Saturday with follow up rodeo this same weekend at Buchan and Lang Lang to conclude the Victorian the Pro-Circuit. The open saddle bronc is to be featured with a $3000 purse with contract stock from the Ron Woodall remuda.
There is plenty of “Man From Snowy River” on this committee. Back in the early days of the Association lots of committees had had their own teams with the likes of Wagga Wagga, NSW hiring them out to other committees in that area. South Australia and Western Queensland produced some awesome animals with many classed as just about unrideable. Many of them taking a run from the chute before exploding or bucking around in front with no pattern or plan.
Well we had a mighty action shot for the front cover of the January Rodeo News and this was backed up by next months copy which portrayed Nichole Fitzpatrick making the new record time in the ladies breakaway roping of 1.85 seconds at Finley. The photographer was Dave Ethell who has been taking action shots from the fifties with the black and white brownie to the present day highly impressive equipment. The head-on action is remarkable and just shows the co-ordination required for such an achievement: both by contestant and camera man.