04 June, 2021
RETIRED BULL RIDER GUY FORD
RETIRED bull rider Guy Ford is hoping for a crowd of more than 1000 when Capella hosts its first professional rodeo for many years on August 28.
Guy has succeeded his father Ross as rodeo chairman and is aiming for 300 nominations and a crowd of more than 1000.
“One of the attractions of having a professional rodeo is that riders will be attracted to the rodeo as they aim for championship points in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association,” Guy said.
The current APRA season ends of August 31 so the Capella Rodeo will be the last chance for riders to finish in the top 15 and qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Warwick in late October.
Capella was the venue for a national finals rodeo in the APRA in the 1970s.
Guy retired from competition at age 30 after his son Beau was born in 2019 but when asked if a comeback was on the cards said “you never say never”.
He lives on the family cattle property with wife Camilla and Beau and runs an electrical contracting business in Capella.
“I retired from rodeo to concentrate 100 per cent on the business,” he said.
Guy and his father Ross have a string of bucking horses which will be used for the Capella Rodeo.
Two weeks ago, they transported 30 horses to the Nebo Rodeo and 26 were bucked out.
Guy has experienced the adrenaline rush on the back of a bucking bull or horse during a successful career.
In 2012, he was third in the open bull ride at Mt Isa, second in second division and all around champion in second division at Mt Isa.
A week earlier, he won the second division at Cloncurry and split first in the bareback.
One of his best years was 2016 when he won the bull ride at Glendon and was second in the bareback bronc ride.
He won the bull ride at Emerald and was second in the bareback in 2016 and capped a top year with a win in the bareback and second in the bull ride at Comet.
Guy expects huge nominations in timed events with past APRA all around champions Shane Kenny, Shane Iker and Campbell Hodson leading the charge.
Three riders from the Central Highlands, Clayton Braden, Mitchell Lansdowne and Jack McKenzie are likely starters in the saddle bronc ride.
Central Queensland cowboy Aaron Kleier and past national champion Brady Fielder are strong chances in the bull ride.
Amber Patteson will be one of the Capella cowgirls in the barrel race in August.
The August 28 rodeo will be in the undercover rodeo arena at Capella. The main performance will start at 5pm.
Members of the Capella tennis club and school P and C will help us as volunteers.
APRA Rodeo program
June 26: Emerald Rodeo
July 9: Gracemere Timed Events Rodeo
July 17: Taroom Rodeo
July 23: Bowen Xtreme Broncs
July 24: Charters Towers Rodeo
July 31: Richmond Let’s Talk Xtreme Broncs and Steer Wrestling Mania
July 31: Richmond Rodeo
August 6: Cloncurry Xtreme Bulls
August 6: Cloncurry Junior Rodeo
August 6-7: Cloncurry Merry Muster Rodeo
August 12-15: Mt Isa Rodeo
August 20-21: North Queensland Elite Rodeo, Townsville
August 28: Capella Rodeo
August 28: Katherine Rodeo
More information APRA office on 07 4661 8183
Retired rider Guy Ford heads the committee running the Capella Rodeo on August 28. Photo by Dave Ethell Photos
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