Neverridden bulls show who’s the boss

THE big bulls at Omarama turned some of New Zealand’s toughest cowboys into rag dolls in the rodeo arena yesterday.

Omarama Rodeo Club president Jamie Brice, in his sixth year running the show, said it was three straight rodeos where ‘‘None of the bulls have been ridden’’.

And while the Mobil Omarama open bull ride went to the beasts yesterday, the people that again filled the embankment above the Omarama Rodeo arena at Buscot Station basked in the sun and cheered on riders even if they did — as the old saying goes — ‘‘grab a piece of prime Omarama real estate’’.

Mr Brice said he enjoyed the atmosphere on the rodeo club’s big day.

‘‘It’s a good spirit,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve got a good crew and a good staff.’’

On the day, club treasurer Wendy Parsons and fourtime past president Jim Metherell, both of Omarama, were awarded life memberships to the Omarama Rodeo Club.

Both had done a lot for the club to keep it going over the years, Mr Brice said.

He was assured Ritchie Morrow, of Alexandra, would be back in fine spirits by yesterday evening after Mr Morrow suffered unknown injuries while competing during steer wrestling yesterday.

A St John spokeswoman confirmed a male patient was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries from the site yesterday afternoon.

❛ None of the bulls have been

ridden.

PHOTOS: HAMISH MACLEAN Testing . . . (Clockwise from right) Hadlee Knight, of Wanaka, competes in the 2nd Div bareback at the Omarama Rodeo yesterday; Kim Richards, of Hyde, competes in the open barrel race; Bo (2) catches up with mum, Stina Robinson, of Dunback, after she competed in the 2nd Div barrel racing and Omarama cowboy Wyatt McAughtrie rides Ace of Spades.

Sunshine . . . Several hundred rodeo fans took in the action.