The sun beat down as country music blared, dust swirled, animals writhed, the crowd cheered and the riders hung on for all they were worth.
Set below the rolling farmland of the Teviot Valley, the wood-and-wire-fenced rodeo arena beneath the pine trees was an ideal setting for the 51st annual Millers Flat Rodeo yesterday.
More than 1000 people watched the rodeo, competitors and spectators coming from across the South and from as far away as Christchurch, Australia and Germany.
About 180 cowboys and girls took to the arena for barrel race, rope and tie, bull ride, bareback and steer wrestling events.
Millers Flat Rodeo Club secretary Sarah MacDougall said the day went ''very, very well''.
The competitors were helped out by good stock, and the largest crowd in several years was well-behaved.
Stand-outs during the day included showings in the team roping event, won by Timothy Evans and Daniel Kennedy.
Kennedy also won the individual rope and tie, with Evans coming third.
The steer wrestling was won by Stacey Atkinson, while Ross Dowling won the bareback category and Kendra Breen the barrel race.
While there was some high cloud and a slight breeze during the event, it did little to cool the day, with temperatures reaching nearly 30degC.
Constable Lance Davies said police had ''no problems whatsoever'' during or after the rodeo.
''The behaviour has been excellent and organisers have done a fantastic job,'' he said.
