WELL-known northern horseman Pat Smyth has missed heading to Bendemeer to contest the campdraft at the village’s annual rodeo only twice in the past 18 years, and that was due to the draft being canned because of drought.
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This weekend Pat, wife Bernadine and sons Brent, Ryan and Lane will all load up and return to the popular sports ground to compete in the huge program.
The campdraft will be determined tomorrow and Sunday while across the ring in the rodeo arena, all the action in the roughstock and timed events will take place tomorrow from 6pm under lights.
But while all the Smyths will be loading their stock saddles onto the truck for the trip from Longford Station to Bendemeer, 25-year-old son Brent will also throw in his rough riding saddle to contest the Peter Jenner Memorial Saddlebronc in the rodeo arena.
“He’s been competing in the saddlebronc since he was 16,” said his dad from horseback while mustering a mob of cattle this week.
“I did it – was only an average rider though – and my dad Jack did too.”
The family – along with Ryan’s girlfriend Zara Moorhead – will saddle up eight horses in the maiden, novice, open, ladies’ and restricted open drafts during the two days of competition.
“We’ve got nearly 1000 entries using all locally donated cattle,” Pat Smyth said.
“Apart from local cockies, Longford will provide 200 head and we’ll have about the same number of our own.”
Prior to pulling on his riding boots for this weekend’s competition, Pat also plays a big part in organising cattle, judges and cartage by local Stockmaster Transport.
“It’s a top draft, Bendemeer – it would be up there with the best of them,” said Smyth, a well-known identity around campdrafting circles.
The family spent a lot of last week at the Landmark Classic at Tamworth’s Australian Equine and Livestock Centre – but Pat couldn’t come away with the feature Classic Campdraft crown like he did last year.
“I went no good,” he said.
“But Brent did win a round of the open on a friend’s horse, but bombed out in the final.”
Also adding a touch of colour to this year’s rodeo will be NRL Rooster legend Anthony Minichiello who will open the twilight spectacular from 6pm.
Features of the rodeo will be the Peter Jenner Memorial Saddlebronc, which annually attracts a good line-up of top riders, and the celebrity barrel race between the local Bendemeer Mountain Men and Kootingal Roosters’ rugby league sides.
