Hawarden farmer and saddle bronc rider Tim Costello has been working with some up-and-coming riders with bucking horses on his farm.
Those young riders are set to join some more experienced competitors at an invitational rodeo at the Hawarden A&P Show on Saturday, March 20, after it proved to be a hit two years ago.
"My parents [Tom and Anne Costello] were co-presidents that year, so they asked us to do it, and the show committee was keen to keep it going," Mr Costello, a New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association (NZRCA) board member, said.
"It proved to be hugely popular two years ago, so hopefully we will get a similar response. It’s good promotion for the sport, because a lot of the people there probably wouldn’t go out of their way to go and watch a rodeo, but hopefully they will come away with a positive view of what rodeo is."
Several North Canterbury riders have opted to forgo national circuit points in the North Island to support the Hawarden show, while others have come out of retirement for the invitational event.
Mr Costello took up rodeo in 2010 and spent six winters from 2014 competing in Canada, while riding the summer circuit in New Zealand.
"It’s very different in Canada. You will be going to two or three or more rodeos in the same weekend ... Here, you just go to one rodeo and spend the whole weekend there."
Despite the busy schedules, few Canadian riders made a fortune from the sport and the risk of a career-ending injury was ever-present, just as it was in other sports.
"The quality of bucking stock and riders they’ve got over there means you’ve got to be at the top of your game, otherwise it’s not worthwhile.
"I was just kind of putting my focus into rodeo and I just worked when I could."
When he returned home in 2019, Mr Costello decided to settle back into the family’s sheep and beef farm at Hawarden.
While his Friesian bulls were not used for rodeo competitions, Mr Costello did have some bucking horses which were used for saddle bronc riding.
"I’ve had a few guys come out and practise on the bulls and there’s a couple of young guys who come out to the farm to ride the horses, who will be at the show and will hopefully be the next big thing."
