Patrons and competitors fresh from the recent Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association’s national finals in Tamworth will head north to Bendemeer this weekend, then westward to Attunga on April 7 for what is promising to be a top program of action in each community.

Both ABCRA-affiliated fixtures boast a jam-packed program of rough-riding and timed events – Bendemeer even has its popular campdraft both days to support the annual rodeo.

And apart from ensuring a top evening’s entertainment – both under lights – the Bendemeer and Attunga communities will be the eventual winners.

“The school, fire services and sporting bodies” echoed loud as the recipients of surplus funds from committees of both camps.

But the Sibelco Attunga Down Under Rodeo will be making a comeback after being absent from the ABCRA event calendar for several years.

President Cameron Glass said it was “time it got going again”.

“People have been asking why we haven’t been holding it because it was a popular event when it was up and running,” he said.

“We reckon it’s had a long enough absence.”

Each rodeo also has feature trophies up for grabs – trophies that are donated by families of past residents who will long be remembered in a sport they loved.

Bendemeer boasts the Peter Jenner Memorial Saddlebronc and Ken Osborne Memorial Campdraft crown, while popular local cowboy and horseman Bill Newman will be remembered when family members are on hand to present the trophy to the saddlebronc winner on Easter Saturday.

included in that family are the well-known Newman names Jason and Adam.

Both etched their names on saddlebronc scoreboards in the United States when they were at their peak several years ago.

The duo is now content to sit back and watch the action.

Though, while their eyes will be focused on the riders in the saddlebronc at both Bendemeer and Attunga, the brothers will be keen to see their own stock perform under those cowboys.

“We’ve got horses going to Bendy and Attunga. We’re one of probably half a dozen contractors heading to Bendemeer,” Adam Newman said.

“We (the committee) reckoned that if we got a few contractors together, they could all bring their best stock.

“That way we can guarantee top action for the crowd.”