Rodeo turns it on for action fans

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 679, 25 March 1997, Page 1

Rodeo turns it on for action fans

Large crowds turned out for the 47th annual Waimarino Rodeo with about 1500 enjoying each day's action. In spite of the downpours on Friday night and early Saturday morning the weather cleared mid morning and the ground was sufficiently dry-for the cowboys to safely compete. Even occasional drizzle on the Sunday did not cause any problems. Competitors came from throughout New Zealand including the South Island, from as far

away as Crookwell and Balclutha. North Island entrants included riders from Tolaga Bay, Warkworth, Pokeno, Napier, Rerewhakaatu, Napier, Rotorua, Tauranga, Cambridge as well as National Park and Taumarunui. The show is very much a family affair, with many of the organisers having once been competitors themselves now with children competing. Fami lies who come e very year to compete are the Church family from Rerewhakaatu, the

Wrights from Raglan and Neville Clarke and his family from Gisborne, to name but a few. From Raetihi, people like Ross Brown and Mick Kennedy have been involved in the show since it started 47 years ago and Grey Healey, whose sons Buster and Ross have also been on the job for years, said he had only missed one show in 47 years. Numbers competing at the show were up a little on last year and organisers were pleased to see the large crowds.