Bad bulls back at incorrigible best

The call has gone out to Far North rodeo organisers to hold the open bull ride spectacle at 2pm in future after the Kaitaia rodeo took until 7pm to be wrapped up last Thursday.

By the time the main event on the card - the open bull ride - arrived to provide the traditional climax to proceedings, most spectators had already packed up and gone home frustrated, after enduring a long hot day under the sun at an arena which offered virtually no shade or shelter from the conditions.

The idea to run the open bull ride at 2pm was mooted by Umawera bull breeder Chris McGarry, speaking on behalf of a majority he was sure would have left the Kaitaia rodeo disappointed at having to miss what is regarded as the rodeo's most spectacular and exciting event. He noted that most - apart from the hardcore enthusiasts - were mainly there to see the bull ride but could only handle a rodeo for three to four hours at most, while many of the paying customers were local farmers who only had a small window during the day to relax and take in proceedings.

Thanks to a slew of mostly unavoidable incidents of varying degrees of seriousness, it was still only 6pm when the penultimate event, the team roping event got under way, and this alone featured nearly 30 entries. By the time the bull ride was rushed out shortly before 7pm, the carpark was virtually empty, spectators having departed throughout the afternoon as it became increasingly apparent proceedings were not running to schedule.

Part of the delay was due to what appeared to be serious injury: Raymond Lanigan knocked out while contesting the saddle bronc event. Currently back in New Zealand from work in Australia, the Far North expat was helicoptered to Whangarei Hospital but discharged in good health later in the day; albeit forced to sit out the next few dates on the circuit.

Other circumstances, admittedly seemingly beyond anyone's control, conspired to turn the day into a test of endurance for all involved. Such as the number of re-runs in the saddle bronc, the addition of the high school challenge to the day's card, while the unrelenting and searing heat of what may well have been the hottest day of the summer so far took a toll on the spectators' patience.

NZ team winsOtherwise, it was business as usual at all three Far North legs of the NZRCA summer circuit: the Far North Rodeo at the Kaitaia A&P Showgrounds on Thursday, the Oruru Valley Rodeo (Tough Enough to Wear Pink) in Peria Saleyards on Friday, and the Wild Out West at Umawera on Saturday. While spectator numbers appeared down at the Kaitaia rodeo, both Peria and Umawera events reported strong turnouts.

The traditional extreme, bruising and action-packed entertainment was always going to be on the bill at all three events but one highlight of the Far North series this year for many local rodeo enthusiasts was seeing all three rodeos play host to the Trans Tasman High School Rodeo Challenge.

Each team in this event is made up of around 10 cowboys and cowgirls representing their nation in arrel racing, steer riding, saddle bronc and bull riding. The New Zealand team was captained by Klay Lanigan from Mangamuka and featured younger brother Bradley. Trailing in the points standings after the first leg of the challenge took place in Kaitaia, the New Zealand team picked up the slack for the remaining two legs, winning at both Peria and Umawera to secure bragging rights overall and wresting the trophy from the Australians' hands.

Neck-and-neck going into the final day at Umawera, Klay and Bradley placed first-equal in the final bull-riding event, traditionally regarded as the domain of the Aussies, while a third to stablemate Lane Church saw New Zealand clinch the series title, 610 points to Australia's 570.

The two Lanigan brothers were undoubtedly the busiest cowboys at all three rodeos. Apart from the high school challenge, they also contested various open and 2nd division titles across the three days; Klay riding in five NZRCA events and two high school challenge events in Kaitaia and Peria, Bradley in four and two respectively. Not surprisingly, the pair were reportedly exhausted on Sunday. Of their best results outside the high school challenge, Klay won the 2nd div bull ride at Kaitaia, while Bradley placed 2nd-equal in the saddle bronc; Bradley won the team roping with Corey Church at Peria, and Klay placed 2nd in the 2nd div bull ride; while at the Wild Out West, Bradley placed 2nd in the bull ride.

Other notable results by local riders (in the two major events at Kaitaia and Peria) included Ramoan Neho - returning with purpose from what some feared would be a career-ending injury last season - winning the open saddle bronc at both events; Kim Coulter winning the open barrel race in front of a home crowd at Kaitaia while Kaitaia stablemate Kary Robertson placed 4th; and Broadwood's Daniel McCready finishing 3rd in the saddle bronc at Peria. A full set of results from the three Far North rodeos can be viewed on the NZRCA website.

Meanwhile, the bulls of Chris McGarry were at their incorrigible best throughout all three days. McGarry went on to congratulate Paddy Church for winning the Kaitaia bull ride on Blue Ray, being only the second time that bull had been successfully ridden in 11 years.

"He's a real gentleman bull, once he knocks them off, he looks at them and walks away," McGarry said. Church eventually picked up $364 for staying eight seconds on Blue Ray's back, which sounds like not a bad day's work if you can manage it.

The Far North participants including McGarry's bulls are now preparing to head to Whangarei this weekend, to contest the three-day Mid Northern Rodeo which begins on Friday night.