UNCOMMON in sporting competitions is the splitting of winner-placegetter cheques, but at Sibelco Attunga Down Under Rodeo on Saturday night, results went down to the wire in four events.
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In the bareback, rope and tie and ladies barrel, winning cash had to be split two ways while in the steerwrestling, second and third money was divided.
In the bareback – dubbed the “suicide event of rodeo” by announcer Glenn Morgan – roughstock judges Mick Gray and Dale Carter couldn’t split the riding talents of Gunnedah’s Wade Clifford and Boggabri’s five-times bareback champion Dee Heinemann.
Both were awarded 78 points to walk away with shared winner-runner-up cheques from third-placed Kootingal cowboy Luke Morris.
All three placed horses were provided by Bective stock contractor and seven-times national bareback champion, Greg Gibson.
In the well-supported rope and tie, Heath Nichols, who also took out the novice saddlebronc, and Tamworth cowboy Blake Hallam couldn’t be separated, both clocking 12.13sec over Luke Taylor (12.70sec).
The same two cowboys shared second and third placing with 4.5sec behind winner Glen Chape (4.37sec) in the steerwrestling.
Chape was fresh from the Sydney Royal where he landed the steerwrestling average title after wrestling all six steers in under five seconds.
Nicole Fitzpatrick and Katina Matthews both flew around the drums in a slick 16.34sec to be joint winners of the ladies barrel.
Cheyenne Whitwell (16.43sec) was third.
The skilled event of team roping saw Troy Caban and Luke Taylor take the money in 5.72sec from Casey Tribe and Will Miller’s 6.42sec. Tribe also combined with Lance Hutton to finish third with 6.87sec.
Former saddleboncers Jason and Adam Newman were on hand to present their dad Bill Newman’s memorial trophy to Bingara’s Mitch Steiger (76 points) over Sam Taylor (71) and Joel Taylor (70).
Steiger’s victory was special, according to Adam Newman.
“Mitch is a good mate of ours, and he’s been coming here for this event for years.
“It’s an honour to hand him the trophy.”