Despite another successful rodeo for the Waimate Rodeo Club, the club's president says he hopes more young people in the area become involved in the sport.
''It was a really good, successful day, all the stock went really well, all the competitors rode well,'' John Wall said.
However, of the 230 competitors at Saturday's 60th annual rodeo in Waimate, only two were Waimate riders. Mr Wall said he would like to see ''a few more'' locals interested in the sport.
Further, the rodeo club that staged the event could use greater numbers.
''We are struggling for members,'' Mr Wall, who has been involved with the event for about 20 years, said.
''People like me, we're getting older; we could do with some young people.
''We're certainly looking for new members and more members.''
Before the rodeo, Fairfax reported animal welfare organisation Safe campaigns officer Abi Izzard had urged people to stay away from the event at the weekend.
''We are encouraging the residents of Waimate to find alternative forms of entertainment that do not involve innocent animals being harmed,'' she said.
But no protesters picketed the event and - and though Mr Wall said he would like to have seen a larger crowd - more than 600 people sat on the banks surrounding the arena for the third rodeo of the season in the South Island.
After members of the Waimate Highland Pipe Band led the grand entry at 1pm, cowboys and cowgirls from across New Zealand competed in bareback riding, calf roping, saddle bronc, barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding.
Mr Wall said he preferred the ''more traditional'' events such as saddle bronc.
''This was the old way to break horses in. They used to drop a saddle on and then ride them like that, so then they started making a sport of it.''
On Saturday, Mr Wall said ''the animal welfare people seemed really happy'' after inspecting the stock.
A Ministry of Primary Industries official was at the rodeo. She declined to comment.
