Yesterday at the Millers Flat Rodeo, Clayton said he had "won ... a lot".
In this year’s rodeo circuit he has taken out first place in all but one of the barrel races — he took first again in the event yesterday.
He has been riding his faithful quarter horse mare "Miss Kitty".
A third-generation cowboy, he was taking after his grandfather and father, he said.
"My granddad’s won titles, and my dad — he won six of them," he said.
He is beginning to catch up — Clayton won his first national junior rodeo all-round title last year.
His younger brother, Hunter Perkins, is also a regular on the rodeo circuit.
Clayton said that it was all part of the sport.
He did not help his younger brother out usually as he was "still learning" himself, but both had an army of family each with their own specialties to help them both whenever they needed.
"They’re good teachers."
Outside the circuit, he honed his skills at home, and his mother helped keep his horse, Miss Kitty, in shape, Clayton said.
While summer was reserved for trekking around New Zealand on the rodeo circuit, winter was when he switched to playing rugby.
He would be back in the saddle tomorrow to compete at the Omarama Rodeo.
