Round 'em up, cowboy!
The 54th annual Millers Flat Rodeo was full of Americana, attitude and activity.
Held yesterday at the Millers Flat Rodeo Ground, the event drew people from Central Otago, wider New Zealand and further afield, who watched riders battle for prizes in the classic Central Otago event.
This year, international announcer Brent Cann, of Queensland, Australia, compered the event.
Cann said yesterday it was the first time he had compered a rodeo in New Zealand.
''You've got beautiful scenery and great people here,'' he said.
''That's what it's all about.''
He had been involved with rodeos since he was ''pretty much in nappies'', Cann said.
He started at 9 years old and never looked back, the 35-year-old compering rodeos in the United States and Canada as well as Australia
He will also attend the Omarama Rodeo tomorrow, not as an announcer but to assist with music and sound.
Junior calf-ride competitor Pyper Arnold (12)
said she had competed in rodeos for three years and loved every minute of it.
''You just hold on and push yourself out there.''
Millers Flat Rodeo Club secretary Mark Booth said there was no minimum age for the junior competition.
''If they can get on a horse at 5, they're out there.''
Millers Flat Rodeo Club president Fred Parker said two international riders from Australia competed at the event.
Most of the animals in the rodeo came from the farmlands around the Teviot Valley, he said.
''They run in the hills 364 days of the year - they have one day for the race.''
The top race was the open bull ride, won by Jimmy Booth, of Balfour.
The weather was generally sunny with intermittent rain throughout the day.
About 1000 people attended the rodeo, which is
part of the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association tour.
The tour continues today with rodeos in Gisborne and Waipiata. It started in October and will end in Wanaka in March.
