Rodeo

In less than 48 hours, Bracknell Lodge was transformed into an arena, hosting the ‘Ride for a Roof’ event raising money for the newly-formed Common Ground Foundation. The event was organised to raise money to purchase a house in Toowoomba in which families can stay while they have a loved one in hospital. And raise money it did.

Cliffy Pearson retired from rodeo in fine style on Saturday night, taking top points in the open saddle bronc in front of adoring fans at the Hope Vale Bulls and Broncs event. The win was bittersweet for Pearson, who dedicated it in honour of Roxanne Hart, who passed away recently.

Pam Dillon. This year’s Borroloola show and Campdraft/Rodeo was a big success with various stands at the show and a big three-day event at the Rodeo grounds ... Big crowds turned out to witness an exciting schedule of events that included Campdraft, Bareback cutting, Gymkhana, Barrel Race, Bull ride, Station Buckjump, Steer Ride, Bullock ride, Poddy ride, Saddle Bronc ride.

Sarah Martin. The Southern Cape was crowned champion after two nights of thrills and spills in the inaugural Cape of Origin event at the Weipa Rodeo. Captained by PBR cowboy Beau Willis, the Southern Cape featured fellow PBR rider Luke Smith, along with local riders Travis Salam-Koolatah, Raymond Bond and Leith Malone.

Mount Isa might be the rodeo capital of the southern hemisphere, but Donovan Rutherfurd has his heart set on conquering the north in the not-too-distant future. The Australian champion is in superb form, having ridden time in two of his three rides at the Curry Merry Muster on the weekend and is well placed to pick up a buckle at his hometown event.

Cape York Peninsula’s biggest annual event, the Laura rodeo and races, roared back to life over the weekend. The tiny town of Laura, with a normal population of 200, swelled to around 3000 as thousands came from far and wide to be a part of what was once an annual event.

Warwick Show is going to be everyone’s happy place in 2022. It will be where you can enjoy fresh air and good wholesome family entertainment starting bright and early Friday morning with peoples’ day.

Jeff Hanson. A sense of deja vu must have swept over the Narrandera Rodeo Club committee on Friday night, with organisers reluctantly deciding to cancel their 2022 rodeo ... the hard-working committee was expecting a bumper crowd for a big night of thrills and spills but for the second year in a row, the Covid-19 pandemic has reared its ugly head.

Around 5000 people packed into Weipa’s new showgrounds facility for the 2021 Weipa Bullride on Friday and Saturday night. Numbers soared in the arena, too, with massive entries across most of the events.

Weipa's new-look showgrounds facility will come to life on Friday night for the opening of the Weipa Bullride and committee chairman Russell Scikluna can’t wait ... The 2021 edition will be largely different to previous rodeos staged in Weipa. Instead of a cabaret on Friday night, there will be action from the chutes to complement the live band. The program will then expand on Saturday with even more events, followed by a second live band.

The thrills and spills of the Tabulam Rodeo were interrupted on Saturday when a young girl fell off the bull she was riding and it trampled her. The 13-year-old received chest injuries when she fell onto the ground and was trampled at about 8pm at Tabulam Racecourse. She was able to walk out of the ring with assistance and was treated at the scene by rodeo paramedics.

The Teebar Show, Rodeo and Campdraft is set to come back this weekend bigger and better than ever before. With campdraft and rodeo, ute muster, hall program, kids activities and movie night, live music and various stalls, there is sure to be entertainment for the whole family.

There will be no Laura rodeo and races this year after both committees decided to pull the pin for a second straight year. Last year’s events were made impossible by the closure of Cape York to outsiders and this year’s event was abandoned as a result of strict COVID-19 rules.

Lynne Mowbray. Lawrence cane and cattle farmer, Bruce Green, was a skilled horseman and was deeply entrenched in both the Grafton and Maclean Show Societies, campdrafts and the Lawrence Rodeo which has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to community groups within the Clarence Valley, since its inception ...