THE inaugural Mitsubishi Big Show Team Roping Championships got under way last night at the AELEC with a team of novice ropers already driving off with a brand new car each from a prize pool valued at over $780,000.
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The event is the realisation of a dream and a vision for Emerald’s Wayne McGhee, who saw something like it in the USA in 1995 and has been sitting on the idea ever since.
Despite the event never having run before, McGhee has managed to attract enough sponsorship and attention to put up 14 new Mitsubishi cars, 10 CanAm ATVs, and plenty of other prizes as well as $275,000 cash.
“It is the richest team roping event in the southern hemisphere and it hasn’t even happened yet,” McGhee said.
The competition started last night and will run until Sunday night across three divisions.
A prize pool like that normally causes a stir in horse sports and it has, with 600 entrants forming 750 teams to ride across the week and weekend.
The event has attracted cowboys from all over Australia, including Darwin and Esperance in Western Australia as well as a contingent coming from the US to hopefully get their hands on some of the bounty on offer.
“This will easily be the best team roping Australia has ever seen,” McGhee said.
“It’s going to be ridiculous.”
“There has never been anything like this before and the best thing is th is the smallest one we will have.”
“It is only going to get bigger and stronger every year, with more prizes and money.”
The Emerald cowboy believes the time is right and so is the venue.
“We have been waiting for the right time and waiting for the industry to get to this level,” McGhee said. “Australia needed to be ready or the size of it might have scared people.”
Entry to the event is free and it will also be streamed online.
