Warwick Rodeo kicks off
Event attracts thousands
“NEVER the horse that couldn’t be rode, never the rider that couldn’t be throwed” this is a saying that riders and bucking stock try to prove wrong each year at the Warwick Rodeo and Campdraft.
The seven-day program will be held from October 22 to 28 this year, with Australia’s best rodeo riders, broncs, and bucking bulls being represented.
The rodeo starts on a Wednesday this year with the APRA finals being held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The Warwick second division rodeo will be held on Saturday and Sunday during the day.
Wednesday night entry will be free for all ages. It’s the first time people will be able to come down and have a night of rodeo for free.
Warwick Show and Rodeo Society chairman Peel Tribe said the highlight of the rodeo would be finding out the winners of the national events.
“Finding out who wins the Aus titles in each event on Saturday night, after four rounds of competition will be exciting,” Mr Tribe said.
“The rodeo itself will be exceptional.
“It’s the most important rodeo in Australia because it’s the national finals.
“It’s four nights. It’s a pretty big deal.
“Last year there were close to 20,000 tickets sold over the whole event. We’re hoping to exceed that this year.
“We’ll see if that happens because of the dry. It’s still going and lot of people can’t afford to spend the money or leave their properties.
“The drought is affecting everyone so we won’t have a throw down if we don’t break the record.
“It will still be here next year for people to attend when the season is better.”
Mr Tribe said Warwick would be the place to be to “see some really good exciting campdrafting”.
“Entries are up from 429 competitors last year to 511 this year for the campdraft,” he said.
“It starts about 5am on Monday morning and goes through to Sunday.”
Cattle for the campdraft will be coming from local Warwick supplies, Goondiwindi, and as far west as Roma.