Double treat for New Year

Just before the New Year’s Eve celebrations, WA rodeo fans were treated to some spectacular thrills and spills when both Bullsbrook and Byford rodeos were cranked up before the midnight hour countdown.

Taking advantage of the two concurrently timed rodeos, cowgirl Melissa Maxwell managed a double tour to win the women’s breakaway roping event at both venues.

Bullsbrook cowgirl Elise Croft also threw her full support behind the double header, winning the team roping event at her home arena with header partner Tammy Kinney and then travelled to Byford in time to compete and win the ladies barrel race.

“I had a road race to achieve between the two rodeos,” Croft said.

Another undeniable dual winner was cowboy Wade McCarthy who won the bareback and open bull ride events at Bullsbrook, scoring a high 77 points for each of his spectacular performances.

These three rodeo competitors have now sealed a great start for their prospective point tallies in the run-up to the 2011 championship season.

While Bullsbrook was toasting the local heroes of the rodeo circuit, Byford was being invaded by the awesome talent of several US cowboys.

World champion saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse, from Montana, was just too good in his chosen event and the all-round cowboy also claimed the winning rope and tie run.

Collin Erb, also from the US, scored the winning bareback ride and came up trumps in the team roping with fellow countryman Bo Bevis.

Meanwhile, local WA cowboy Mick Collins had the saddle bronc ride nailed down at Bullsbrook with a cool 73-point winning ride.

And while Gaynor Dalle-Nogare claimed the fastest time (16.35 seconds) in the ladies barrel race at Bullsbrook, Shelby Bowtell claimed victory in the junior event in a very fast-for-age 16.74 seconds.

Also thrilling the big crowd at Bullsbrook, Zach Kealy made a sensational return to top form in the steer wrestling event, clocking a time of 5.84 seconds.

Closing out the Byford rodeo, Ashely Price took out top honours in the open bull ride aboard Clown Face.