Ben Lees’ crowning moment as a cowboy came at the Australian Equine and Livestock and Events Centre on Saturday night, but not without a nervous wait.
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The battle for the coveted all-round cowboy saddle - the symbol of the best cowboy in the country – went down to the second last event on the final night of the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo.
There was only a few points in it in the end – or a few hundredths of a second to be exact – with Lees holding off Willow Trees’ Heath Nichols.
After Lees, who held an eight point advantage over Nichols heading into the finals, had placed second in the bareback and third in the saddlebronc, and Nichols second in the rope and tie, the latter had the chance to snatch the title with a round victory in the steer wrestling.
But while he was quick, he wasn’t quite quick enough with his time of 4.61 seconds not enough to take the round honours. They went to Travis Munro with 4.55 seconds.
“I watched it and thought it was pretty close,” Lees said.
Nichols did too, throwing his hat into the air to the cheers of the crowd.
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It is Lees’ first all-round national title and accompanied the Singleton cowboys’ second successive saddlebronc title.
That too went down to the wire with Lees, Ben Maytom and Denny Swadling all capable of winning the title going into the final round.
Maytom laid down a marker with an equal top – with Robert Bandy – 78 point ride. Lees then came out and scored 77. It proved to be enough for him to clinch the buckle with Swadling failing to register a time.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Lees said before the finals presentation.
“It’s been a long road.”
His eighth time competing at the National Finals, the 34-year-old also won the bareback average and was second in the saddlebronc.
“It’s been a really good year,” he said.
He credits a lot of his success to wife Bec – fellow rodeo competitor Rebecca Hancock – whom he married in the middle of last year.
“She keeps me motivated,” he said.
The one that brought it to his attention that he was a chance to win his maiden all-round title, she was admittedly a “nervous wreck” going into the finals.
“I’ve never been one to look at where I am,” Lees said.
“I just enjoy what I do.”
“I thrive on improving myself and I just love riding bucking horses.”
He is though happy to take a bit of a back seat this year, and support Bec – a breakaway roper and steer undecorater – in her endeavours.
“I’ll be her cheer squad this year,” he said.
“It’ll be really good to see her do well.”
Both will compete at the Cassillis Rodeo on Saturday.
The event holds a special place being where they met.
