By Saskia Konynenburg A SEA of cowboy hats covered the hill overlooking the Maungatapere rodeo grounds as thousands of spectators watched fearless cowboys challenge bucking bulls and horses at the weekend.
The sun beat down on the Mid Northern Rodeo as cowboys from around the country competed in bull rides, barrel racing, bare broncs, saddle broncs, team roping, steer wrestling and calf-roping events.
The "animal cruelty" controversy surrounding rodeos didn't put off 2800 spectators on Saturday and an equally big crowd yesterday.
Mid-Northern Rodeo president Noel Upton said people had made up their minds to come and were enjoying themselves. "It's been excellent. The cowboys are happy, the stock are in good form and everyone seems to be having a good time. It's been really busy and the atmosphere has been really positive," he said.
St John's ambulance officials were on stand-by dealing with minor "bumps and bruises".
Ten-year-old Luke Longley, of Dunedin, took a nasty knock when the calf he was riding threw him off and stamped on his head. He sat crying in the ambulance while medics treated his injuries. His mother said the incident would teach Luke to use his free arm better when competing.
"He'll survive. Two years ago he got kicked in the mouth by a calf so he knows it's all part of the rodeo. Knocks like these harden him up," she said. The family will start the long journey back down to their Dunedin home tonight.
It wasn't just the cowboys working the St John's staff hard. One woman needed medical attention after drinking too much alcohol and collapsing on Saturday.
Another woman needed help yesterday for dehydration and heat exhaustion.
A veterinarian on stand-by said no animals had received major injuries and all were in good shape.
The Church family from Rerewhakaaitu, Rotorua - considered rodeo royalty among their peers - featured prominently in the arena.
"Probably a third of the entries to the rodeo would be members of the Church family. There's probably about four generations involved from the calf ride right up to the bull ride. They're put on horses when they're babies. We need a strong Northland rodeo family like that," Mr Upton said.
Yeeha! Rodeo ropes in thousands
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