The banks of the Maniototo Rodeo Grounds were lined with spectators keen to watch the action-packed day of events.
Maniototo Rodeo Club president Dave Hutton-Atkins said the rodeo was the national season’s fourth event and competitors would try to rack up as many points as possible to get a spot in the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association (NZRCA) Nationals, to be held in Waikouaiti next year.
He was pleased with the weather and the turnout of spectators and competitors.
Australian visitor Zane Hall was competing while on holiday.
A third-generation cowboy, the 26-year-old said he had competed in rodeo events since he was about 6.
"I’ve been rodeoing every weekend since," he said.
This would be his first time riding New Zealand bulls, which he hoped would go well.
During his week and a-half in the country, he would also be heading to Feilding to take part in the Tasman Cup, which would pit Australian and New Zealand bull riders against one another.
At the Maniototo Rodeo, barrel-racing, bronc-riding, bull-riding and cattle-roping events were held in junior, novice, second division and open categories.
During lunchtime intermission, spectators were treated to a display of motorcycles as they ripped around the dusty rodeo arena.
Between events, spectators flocked to the stalls, where they could buy food, drinks and cowboy attire.
One particularly busy stall was custom hat shop BarM.
Owner and hat artist Millie Aitken said she had been very busy custom-fitting and shaping hats to customers’ sizes and design preferences.
Miss Aitken said she had been so busy there were too many orders for her to count.
The next rodeo on the NZRCA calendar would be the Millers Flat Rodeo on Boxing Day.
