RODEO ARRIVES

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

RODEO ARRIVES

DOMINION TOUR PLANNED

CIRCUS THRILLS FOR ALL Carrying their polished and oi’namented saddles, six riders for New Zealand’s first full-scale rodeo for many years landed at Wellington from the Ormonde recently. . All the customs and feats of American, Mexican and Australian horsemanship and stockmanship are combined in the rodeo in which they will appear but the proprietor, Lance Scuthorpe, is a Queensland rough rider who starts in his own show. • Also a Queenslander is the manager, Mr A. L. Barton. He came over on the Waipori' a fortnight ago as acting-groom to seven of the horses. These are being cared for at Miramar till the rest of the company arrives.

It was not an easy matter to get a rodeo to New Zealand, Mr Barton told a newspaper representative. The company, including the rest of the horses and the gear, was arriving as it could find shipping space. Mr Scuthorpe arrives at an early date.

Though no definite date can yet be given, the “big top”—and it measures 140 by 80ft.—will go up first in Auckland.

The Show, however, is to go to most places in New Zealand. The horses, mules and donkeys will travel in 18 horse trailers—long narrow vehicles in which they will pack head to tail.

Though there will be plenty of thrills in their performances, they are experienced and docile travellers. Even Aristocrat, the wall-eyed bay 12-year-old who has never yet been ridden, and who went to America with Lance Scuthorpe when he rode in Tim McCoy’s show, is a real pet so long as you keep off his back. Incidentally, it is worth £IOO to. anyone who can stay there for 10 seconds. When the big top goes up, there will also be clowns, tumblers and all the fun of the fair by a company of 40.