Happening today (SATURDAY) in LONGREACH in Outback Queensland as the town hosts the first ever ROAD TO RODEO….
The world's oldest competitive cowboy BOB HOLDER takes centre stage, joined by one of the youngest in Byron Kirk:
In a HUGE moment in Australia rodeo history, Longreach has welcomed legend Bob Holder – officially the world's oldest competitive cowboy (confirmed via the international association) – as well as nine-year-old Byron Kirk from Mt Isa!
Bob hails from Cootamundra in New South Wales – and he's still roping and riding at 91 years of age. He's competed for 76 years and proudly has a place in the sport's Hall of Fame. The last time he competed at Longreach was 64 years ago! His daughter Kerrie is well known in the APRA circuit and is the current Mount Isa Mines Rodeo Open Barrel Champion.
Eighty-two years Bob's junior is Byron Kirk, who has made the 700km journey from Mount Isa. Last year Byron shared the poddy calf ride title at the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
Outback Queensland hosts ROAD O RODE LONGREACH!
Buckles, belts and bulls are taking over Longreach in Outback Queensland this weekend for the first ever Road to Rodeo. While some of the best riders in the country are arriving and preparing to compete in the arena, the bars in town are readying to welcome visitors from all directions – even Brahman bullocks! Famous Longreach local OLLIE the Brahman and his owner John Hawkes, along with Henry and Arthur the Border Collies popped into The Commercial Hotel and met Brisbane gal, Shelby Ackerman, who made the 1000km journey west this week.
Road to Rodeo Longreach features a full rodeo program (Bull Ride (Open, Over 40s, 2nd & Junior Division), Saddle Bronc -Open & 2nd Division - Bareback -Open & 2nd Division - Rope & Tie (Open), Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Race, Ladies Breakaway Roping and Mini Bull Rides), and a knockout country music line-up starring (in addition to The Wolfe Brothers), Bella Mackenzie, Luke Geiger & Bareback and James Johnston as well as locals Corinne Ballard and John Hawkes. There's food & wine, low 'n' slow BBQ by famed pitmasters The Shank Brothers, wine tastings at Brown Brother's Proseccos Paddock, markets and sideshow alley, competitor meet & greet sessions, cooking demonstrations, bush poetry by Scotty the Barefoot Poet, sheepdog demonstrations and more.
The Wolfe Brothers are the newest winners of the Golden Guitar for Contemporary Album of the Year and for Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year at Tamworth Country Music Festival just last week! They will be performing live at Longreach at the Rodeo Rock concert on Saturday night!
Between the rodeo action, the country music line-up, the low & slow BBQ on offer and the iconic big outback skies under which it all will happen, Longreach is set to host a party for the ages!
Building on the dual legends of rodeo and Outback Queensland, the Longreach Showgrounds and Rodeo Arena plays host. Road to Rodeo – An Isa Rodeo Experience brings a taste of the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo experience Longreach, featuring the signature ingredients of this iconic event including thrilling rodeo action and live Rodeo Rock. The series aims to create four new annual rodeo events across Queensland by 2024, representing a long-term economic injection to the state of over $4 million.
This outback festival is perfectly at home in Longreach, home to stockmen, shearers, sunsets and big blue skies. Longreach in the heart of Outback Queensland is the perfect location for the first Road to Rodeo. It is a proud rodeo-loving region, is home to the Stockman's Hall of Fame and has a long rodeo and camp drafting history.
The full program can be seen at https://www.isarodeo.com.au/road-to-rodeo-longreach/
THE COMPETITORS
The event also welcomes emerging RODEO stars, like Jacy (13) and Tyler (12) Morton, two local Longreach girls who are just as comfortable on a horse, as they are on the ground, as well as one of the youngest and oldest competitors in the country! Tyler Morton is 12 years old and dreams of competing in the American Rodeo circuit as a barrel racer. She loves the speed, the turns and the accuracy of the sport, and in two weeks at Longreach she will compete in the Junior and Open Ladies Barrel. Her sister Jacy (13) will compete against her in the Junior Barrel, and then swap saddles for the mini-bull ride!
Also, riding is reigning Mount Isa Mines Rodeo Open Bareback Bronc Rider Fred Osman. He stepped out of retirement to compete last year, having won the title last in 2013. But that wasn't all, the Cameron's Corner rodeo star also took out the second division Bareback Bronc title. He's one to watch. Rounding out the trio of champions from the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo competing is Sam Weston, who scored an 140 points in the Second Division Saddle Bronc competition last year to take the coveted buckle. And proof that rodeo is a family affair, APRA chair and superstar, Shane Iker is competing and said he can't hang up his boots because he loves practicing and competing with his son, Jordan, saying "If you're going to be beaten, why not get beaten by your son?"
THIS WEEKEND: Road to Rodeo LONGREACH: An Isa Rodeo Event Experience
Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May, 2022
Longreach Showgrounds and Rodeo Arena
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
Tickets, accommodation packages and travel itineraries: all at isarodeo.com.au
Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.isarodeo.com.au/enewsletter/
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere
Thursday 11th August to Sunday 14th August 2022
Website: Isarodeo.com.au
These events are supported by the Queensland Government, via Tourism and Events Queensland
