'With practice, you get the hang of it'

Up-and-coming bull rider Jack Muir, of Wyndham, is decked out in his rodeo gear in Millers Flat...
Up-and-coming bull rider Jack Muir, of Wyndham, is decked out in his rodeo gear in Millers Flat yesterday. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Cowboy Sam Brown takes a tumble during the 2nd division bareback section.
Cowboy Sam Brown takes a tumble during the 2nd division bareback section.
The crowd take in the action
The crowd take in the action
Cowgirl Claire Smith rounds the last barrel in the 2nd division barrel race
Cowgirl Claire Smith rounds the last barrel in the 2nd division barrel race

This is not 7-year-old Jack Muir's first rodeo. In fact, it is the up-and-coming Wyndham bull rider's second outing riding a calf on the big stage.

Jack was the only young rider game to enter the calf ride at the Millers Flat Rodeo yesterday.

Although he was bucked off after about five seconds, he was happy with his efforts.

It was all practice, and eventually the cow-kid planned to ride with the big guns.

``I've been doing it since I was 5. The trick is when the calf goes down, you go back, and when the calf comes up, you go forward.''

His first attempt in the sport was at the Mataura Rodeo in February and he will enter the event again next year.

Jack did not find it scary, saying ``with practice, you get the hang of it''.

He started in the sport by jumping on a calf while others held on to it, and progressed from there, he said.

``I train over at [Mataura Rodeo Club president] Anthony Perkins', up five minutes behind us.''

His father, Willy Muir, said the boy had a keen interest in cow breeding.

``He's always asking questions about everything.''

About 1200 people packed the rodeo grounds yesterday for the 53rd annual event.

Millers Flat Rodeo Club president Fred Parker said the shade it installed this year to protect the crowd ``really made a difference''.

``It's been a great day. The weather has been very good to us.''

It was a family event and the club never had any trouble from the crowd, he said.

There were no major injuries to riders or animals and medical staff and vets were on hand the whole day.

Due to the ``top quality stock'', there were no winners in the bull ride as all the participants were bucked off.

Ross Dowling won the open saddle and Tate McDonald won the open bareback.

Today, the circuit stomps into Waipiata for the second Maniototo Rodeo.

jono.edwards@odt.co.nz

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