WILD WEST SHOW

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 69, 6 January 1947, Page 5

WILD WEST SHOW

COMING TO WHAKATANE

AUSTRALIA’S FINEST

HORSEMEN

The forerunners of the biggest Wild West Show, Rodeo, Circus, etc. ever to visit New Zealand have arrived in this country. The most colourful persons on the ‘Ormonde’ which berthed in Wellington on Deember 15th were seven- AustralianAmerican cowboys dressed in real Wild West fashion with elaborate saddles etc. These included Tex Mooney, 1944 and 1945 all-round cowboy champion of Australia. Auckland also saw arriving by plane on the 18th ultimo Lance Skuthorpe and Geo. Ausling looking every inch of their profession. Lance Skuthorpe who is world champion buckjump rider having won the title against all the best of Australian and world’s riders at Sydney Rodeo 1944, is probably one of the best known personalities in the Rodeo world today, as apart from bronc riding. He has won most of the major prizes at bulldogging and bullock riding throughout America when captaining the Australian team which visited there in 1938.

Skuthorpe it was who took this ; team to America at the early age of 22, his team was never defeated and took a large portion of the prize moneys at Galgary Stampede, Alberta, Canada, also at Madison Square Garden, and all other large Rodoes and Wild West Shows. Geo. Ausling is Queensland champion and a very fine type cowboy and adept at all phrases of Rodeo work.

Most of the boys have been hand picked from all the leading Rodeo Shows and apart from their ability at bronc busting, bulldogging, bullock riding, roping etc. have been chosen for their sober habits and mode of living. Many of these 'boys come from the best homes of ranch owners and Australia’s cattleman, and ace in' the show more for the lure of thrills and love of their profession than from monetary gain. Apart from Rodeo work some of these boys which are arriving do Jingling, Roman, Coscach riding etc. So if you see someone racing round with a foot on each of two galloping horsse, or riding erect with legs in air you have not taken too much over Xmas and New Year it is only the boys practising, when the whole show arrives. They will travel right throughout New Zealand. The few that have arrived have had a very successful season at. Lake Front Carnival Rotorua, not being able to cope with the crowd wishing to attend. They are showing in Whakatane Thursday, Friday and Saturday nighlfe.