THREE’S THE RODEO CHARM – MOUNT ISA MINES RODEO FESTIVAL IS GO!
The famous Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships is happening today, before the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo starts tomorrow, and riders have come from all over Australia and New Zealand to compete, including first timer, 17 year old bullrider Ethan Williams ...
17-year old Indigenous bullrider, whose family is from the Torres Strait, Ethan Williams from Burpengary near Brisbane has made the 1,800km trip for the first time. While the apprentice carpenter didn’t grow up in rodeo, he’s got the taste now and is keen to get on a bull today. “I’m excited about the personality of the Mount Isa bulls and am dead keen to get going, it’s a long way and it’s worth it.” He rides in the Indigenous Rodeo Championships today (Friday) and in the Second Division Bullride on Friday at the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo proper.
19-year old local Waluwarra rider Cordel Gosbee was riding poddy calves before he could walk. He’s grown up at Mount Isa Rodeo and will compete at both the Indigenous Rodeo Championships today and the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo over the weekend across Steer Wrestling, Rope and Tie and Team Rope. “It’s my first Isa Rodeo since coming back from studying Sports Education at University in Brisbane, so I’m feeling much more confident and practiced this year,” he said.
Captain of the New Zealand Indigenous team, 29-year old cowboy Merv Church has rodeoed all his life and around the world. He’s the grandson of the godfather of New Zealand Rodeo Mervyn Church and son of Corey Church who won 6 NZRCA All Round titles and his mantlepiece is full of national bull ride buckles. He’s a proud Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa man.
He said he’s dreamt of riding at the legendary Mount Isa Rodeo since he was a little boy. “My dad and uncles all talk about Mount Isa Rodeo, everyone talks about riding at this rodeo.” He said it’s been about 20 years since his relatives had ridden at Isa, and he was privileged and humbled to be named captain of the New Zealand team. “It would be the icing on the cake to take home a famous Mount Isa Rodeo buckle (trophy). I’m so privileged to be riding one of Shane Kenny’s (legendary Australian cowboy) horses, which makes it one of the best in the world, and the whole team is so thankful to have incredible horses for this rodeo. We hope this Trans-Tasman Rodeo Challenge can become an annual event.”
IMAGES HERE
Note images from today's event will be uploaded at 2pm, 6pm and 8pm.
RODEO IS GO!!!
Hold on to your hats and dust off those boots because the greatest show on dirt in the Mount Isa Rodeo Festival, featuring the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships and the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, STARTS TODAY (Friday).
TODAY/FRIDAY is the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships featuring the first ever Trans-Tasman challenge that’ll make Bledisloe Cup fans cheer, celebrating two of the greatest Indigenous rodeo families from each side of the famous ditch.
The Ah One x Church Family Trans-Tasman Indigenous Rodeo Challenge will see some of the best cowboys and cowgirls from New Zealand take on the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo champions on Thursday night. This Bledisloe Buck of rodeo has been created to pay tribute to George Ah One, known as The Carandotta Drover, and his family who walked the legendary CARANDOTTA horses over 200 kilometres from Carandotta Station through to Kalkadoon Park for the annual Mount Isa ROTARY Rodeo in 1959. The family did this for over 20 years, and became revered for their horsemanship, and the bloodline of these horses, as a result of George’s care, are still viewed as the best rodeo stock in the country.
While the Ah One name is legendary in Australian rodeo, the Church family is legendary in New Zealand. This multi-generational Māori rodeo family is the reigning national champions and celebrating these pioneers of indigenous rodeo heritage will create Trans-Tasman rodeo history.
Fresh from taking Gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards and only in its third year, the Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships is looking to again welcome a record crowd and a record number of riders with Australian music royalty in Kasey Chambers and Christine Anu headlining the Rodeo Rock concert.
Natalie Flecker, CEO of Isa Rodeo Limited called on the country to get ready to rodeo!
“Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest rodeo and the third largest rodeo in the world, and this year champions will return to battle for the famous buckles, newcomers will become legends, juniors will rise up, eight seconds will seem like a lifetime and the heritage and importance of rodeo in the Outback will be celebrated. But there’s more: riders are coming from across the world to literally throw their hats in the ring!” she said.
Mount Isa Rodeo Festival runs through to SUNDAY with tickets still available.
The Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships is proudly supported by the Queensland Government. The Mount Isa Rodeo Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
All information and TICKETS ON SALE: Mount Isa Rodeo - Australia's Most Spectacular Rodeos
Contact details:
KATH ROSE
0416 291 493
kath@kathrose.com
