BENDEMEER Rodeo president Chris Reid hung up his competitive saddlebronc riding boots several years ago but the adrenalin rush couldn’t be tamed when entries for the Invitational Poly Buckjump Ride were thrown open at the village’s annual rodeo-campdraft on the weekend.
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The Invitational Poly Buckjump goes back to the grass roots of rodeo, according to publicity officer Adam Newman.
“They basically have to ride a bucking horse in their everyday working saddle.”
So Reid nominated, despite the list containing riders coming from a wide area – even interstate.
And in the final ride of the night, Reid spurred his way to 84 points and victory to the echo of the big crowd in attendance.
“The crowd just went ballistic,” Newman said.
Still locally, Bendemeer brothers Ben and Lachlan Smith combined to win the team roping in a slick 5.65sec – a “near ground-breaking record” according to announcer Glenn Morgan.
Tamworth’s Emily Parkinson (2.00sec) and Phillipa Leys (2.22sec) took the money in the ladies’ breakaway. Also representing the Parkinsons was Ty who won the rope & tie in 9.73sec.
Attunga’s Brittany McVicar looked assured of ladies’ barrel racing honours holding onto a slick 16.66sec, but titleholder Nicole Fitzpatrick rocketed around the drums in the final run of that event in 16.58sec for victory.
“She’s a good hand – a clever horsewoman” Newman said of the Willow Tree allrounder.
Rhys Angland’s 73 points aboard Miss Calgary won him the Peter Jenner Memorial Saddlebronc title over Luke Morgan (72) while Boggabri’s Dee Heinemann won the bareback with his 79-point ride aboard King’s Court from the Newman Brothers string.
And Bendemeer’s Mountain Men were too strong for the Kootingal Roosters to win the popular Football Barrel Racing Challenge.
After having the two-day draft program of the annual rodeo-campdraft canned because of drought last year, organisers were impressed with entries for the return to the Bendemeer grounds last weekend.
Spokesman Pat Smyth said nearly 1000 entries were put through over the two days of competition.
“All the cattle were donated from local graziers and carted to and from the venue, as usual, by Stockmaster Transport,” he said.
Smyth’s son Ryan rode Hummer to victory in the maiden B draft while Rob Leach aboard Pep’N’Coda Lena won the maiden A.
The junior and juvenile went to Tom Porter and Pixie and Toby Coulthard with Handy respectively, while the ladies’ draft was won by Molly Le Brocq on Cloe.
In the novice drafts, Laura Macintosh and Conmaide won the A division while Bruce McNaughton riding Lil Acre took out the B section.
The two feature open drafts were won by Keith Hourigan on Costalot and Al Sullivan riding Miss Dulcelena.
