Buckles have been shared by a raft of champions at the Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships, which was held in the regional Queensland city at the weekend.
In the event's third instalment, the Indigenous Rodeo Championships saw Indigenous cowboys and cowgirls of all ages compete in various rodeo disciplines, while the inaugural Ah One x Church Family Trans-Tasman Indigenous Rodeo Challenge pitted Indigenous and Māori competitors against one another for the first time.
In the Indigenous Rodeo Championships, Western Queensland's Luke Metcalf was crowned bareback champion with a score of 69, while 30-year-old Injune cowboy Kimba Fien (72) took the Saddle Bronc title ahead of Gympie's Jessie Amber (62).
In the showcase bull ride division, 20-year-old Katherine cowboy Jed Farrington (71) won by a single point, beating Doomadgee's Peter Gregory Jnr (70).
In timed events Mount Isa cowboys dominated, with 27-year-old Layne Creer (20.4) taking out the coveted steer wrestling buckle ahead of 19-year-old Cordel Gosbee (26.6) while Falon Hoare of Charters Towers won the barrel race in a time of 20.359 ahead of Parkside's Sarah Wilson (20.669).
Full championship results can be found below.
Following the Indigenous Rodeo Championships, the Ah One x Church Family Trans-Tasman Indigenous Rodeo Challenge saw the Australian team face up against the best cowboys and cowgirls from New Zealand.
The New Zealand team were successful in the inaugural challenge, with both teams promising to meet in 12 months on the famous red dirt arena of the Buchanan Park Events Complex.
Following the competition, Australian team captain Shilo Gosbee paid tribute to both the Australian and New Zealand outfits.
"It was great. It was thrilling. Both competitive teams. I think both teams rode really well, the cowgirls and the cowboys," Gosbee said.
"…I think they all tried their hardest and they're looking forward to more practice and getting into it again next year."
Gosbee said facing the New Zelaand Haka was a surreal experience.
"Where we were interlocked at the back, you could feel our whole line (and) the elbows were getting tighter and tighter and everyone was getting thrilled," he said.
"We were overwhelmed, it was awesome.
"It's intimidating, but I think it boosted our team up as well.
"It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was great."
Gosbee said the Indigenous Rodeo Championships is growing year on year.
"Every year we've got a few more extra people in, and they tell their mates," he said.
"Hopefully it gets bigger and better, get a few more time event people, a few more people riding the horses and roping and bull riding."
Regarding the Trans-Tasman Indigenous Rodeo Challenge, Cosbee was optimistic the event will continue in the future.
"We might be able to go over there I think," he said.
Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Championships Results
Bull Ride:
1st Jed Farrington (Katherine) – 71
2nd Peter Gregory JNR (Doomadgee) – 70
3rd Lane Hanush Bowen (Biboohra) – 53
Bareback:
1st Luke Metcalf (Western) – 69
Saddle Bronc:
1st Kimba Fien (Injune) – 72
2nd Jessie Amber (Gympie) – 62
Team Roping:
1st Zoe Searle (Cloncurry) / Darcy Harrison-Douglas (Cloncurry) – 14.4
2nd Falon Hoare (Charters Towers) / Darcy Harrison-Douglas (Cloncurry) – 18.7
Rope & Tie:
No times
Steer Wrestling:
1st Layne Creer (Mount Isa) – 20.4
2nd Cordell Gosbee (Mount Isa) – 26.6
Barrel Race:
1st Falon Hoare (Charters Towers) – 20.359
2nd Sarah Wilson (Parkside) – 20.669
3rd Lexi-Ann Sullivan (Camooweal) – 23.289
4th Mahleah Stacey (Emerald) – 24.513
Jnr Steer:
1st Jack Mullins (Mount Isa) – 65
2nd Bronzon Mara-Skellern (Cloncurry) – 62
3rd Riley Ahern (Gardens) – 61
4th Cooper Hoare (Black Jack) – 59
Mini Bulls (8 – 10 years):
1st Tommy Murphy (Cloncurry) – 63
2nd Dallas Murphy (Cloncurry) – 62
3rd Levi McCulloch (Mount Isa) – 59
Mini (11 – 14 years)
1st Riley Ahern (Gardens) – 62
2nd Cooper Bennett (Gympie) – 61
Trans-Tasman Indigenous Rodeo Challenge RESULTS
Bull Ride:
1st Leeroy Church (NZ) – 75
2nd Jed Farrington (AUS) – BO
Bareback Bronc:
1st Brett McCorkindale (NZ) – 66
2nd Luke Metcalf (AUS) – NT
Saddle Bronc:
1st Kimba Fien (AUS) – 67
2nd Callum Tahau (NZ) – 63
Breakaway Roping:
1st Jemma Dowling (AUS) – 3.95
2nd Lani Jackson (NZ) – NT
Steer Wrestling:
1st Haami Boyton (NZ) – 6.25
2nd Layne Creer (AUS) – NT
Barrel Race:
1st Falon Hoare (AUS) – 19.449
2nd Jayde Asher (NZ) – 22.709
Rope & Tie:
1st Mervyn Church JNR (NZ) – 16.35
2nd Cordell Gosbee (AUS) – NT
Team Roping:
Arina Halley & Kiwa Halley (NZ) – NT
Zoe Searle & Darcy Harrison Douglas (AUS) – NT
