Rodeo club ropes NZ National Finals

Wanaka Rodeo Club president Lyal Cocks relaxes at the Albert Town arena, where the 2014 New...
Wanaka Rodeo Club president Lyal Cocks relaxes at the Albert Town arena, where the 2014 New Zealand National Finals Rodeo will be held. Photo by Catherine Pattison.
Putting in a tentative bid has paid dividends for the Wanaka Rodeo Club, which has been chosen to host the New Zealand National Finals Rodeo on March 8 and 9 next year, for the first time since 2001.

The event will be the culmination of 26 rodeos held over six months and competitors will be fighting for a total purse of $40,000.

Club president Lyal Cocks said the purpose-built Albert Town arena had hosted only two annual rodeos and, although the members'' weren't expecting to get it [the finals] this soon'', having the 64-competitor, eight-event finals was ''good for Wanaka and good for our district''.

NZ Rodeo Cowboys Association president Marty Deans said the Wanaka club's grounds, with a well-designed amphitheatre for up to 6000 spectators, was ideal to showcase the national finals.

The Upper Clutha A&P Show is on the same weekend, but the two events complemented each other, show secretary Jane Stalker said.

''We are excited to have this national event follow on from our show and have invited members of the Wanaka Rodeo Club and national rodeo finalists to lead the show's grand parade on Saturday,'' she said.

The first rounds of the finals will start at 5pm on the Saturday and the last two rounds will be held on the Sunday from 1pm.

The top eight competitors in each of the eight events, including bull riding and saddle bronc, will be competing for the national titles.

The annual Wanaka Rodeo on January 2 will go ahead as planned.

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement