Wingham Summertime Rodeo

With a horseless program due to equine influenza, and less than ordinary weather conditions, the Wingham Summertime Rodeo held on the NSW mid-north coast over the weekend struggled to pull a quarter of the gate takings it did last year.

But for the spectators who did attend the steers and bulls put on a great show as riders competed for thousands of dollars in prize money.
Rodeo judge Cameron Glass says the ride of the rodeo went to the winner of the Open Bull Ride Andrew Kelly who took home $1830.
"His bull was really athletic. It come around and came into a pretty tight spin and the cowboy didn't move off his rope, he had full control all the way through and didn't look he was going to get bucked off," he said.
"The field of riders were good, the bulls were outstanding. It's been a lot quieter with the EI and there's just bull rides. Nobody's back into the full swing yet but once we get all clear of the EI I think you'll find a lot more will start entering."
Hunter Valley horse and bull breeder Brad Fitzsimmons says equine influenza has slowed down business.
"There hasn't been too many rodeos on at all. This is only about the fourth rodeo we've done since the influenza outbreak. It's sort of put a stop on rodeos mostly," he said.
"There's a few starting to come back on now in the new year and hopefully as the year progresses and clears up we can start getting back into bucking some horses and some bulls."
Mr Fitzsimmons says the disease has gone through their property located in a purple zone at Branxton.
"We haven't bucked any horses since back in August when it first broke out, they've just been paddocked at home," he said.
"It's going to be later in the year I would think before we start doing a full program or run of rodeos."
One of the Fitzsimmons' bulls at the Wingham Summertime Rodeo was recently named the Australian Bushman's Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) Bucking Bull of the Year.
Orgasmo, brother to Johnny Rotten and son of Matador, has only been ridden once in the last 14 to 15 months he's been bucking on the circuit.
That honour goes to Jason O'Hearn who rode him and won an Australasian Bullriding Title at the Kundabung Rodeo last October long weekend.
"That was the one and only time he's been ridden so far. He's had a few blokes go close up in the high sevens but eight seconds is the score," said Mr Fitzsimmons.

Results of the Wingham Summertime Rodeo:

Open Bull Ride - Andrew Kelly
Novice Bull Ride - Cliff Richardson
14 and Under 18 Juvenile Steer Ride - David Rice and Troy Wilkinson (equal first)
11 - 14 year Junior Steer Ride - Harrison Judd
8 - 11 year Pee Wee Poddy Ride - Bradie Gray

See the photo's