Aboriginal cowboy sets the pace in US rodeo

What happens when an indigenous Australian cowboy takes on North America’s Wild West?

Mt Isa-born Sam Spreadborough will make a feature appearance at Boyup Brook’s Harvey Dickson Rodeo on October 27, not to tell tales, but to take pride in his US rodeo experience and ride out a buck or two.

The cowboy has a long history of rodeo accomplishments, with the most recent saddle bronc title from the 2016 Cinch Shootout at Denver Colorado.

Legend has it that Spreadborough was the only native Australian to compete at the 2010 Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas.

His family, on his father’s mother’s side, came from the Kalkadoon tribe — the reason he wears a black and orange feather in his hat and an Aboriginal flag badge on his vest.

His early days were spent at his grandfather’s cattle station, Haslingden, Mt Isa, Queensland, where bucking bulls were turned out for the Mt Isa Rodeo.

From there, the Spreadborough family, including Sam, moved to Tamworth where they competed in campdrafting, but at 13, Sam was keen to be a rough stock rider.

After his first steer ride, he was hooked and made it all the way to the High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, Illinois, in 2001.

Spreadborough was recruited by Western Texas College and competed for four years on the college’s rodeo team.

Since then he has won numerous rodeos and titles in the US, but it begs to predict what performance he will put in at Harvey Dickson. Mogumber-born Texas cowboy Travis Edwards will also be making an appearance at Harvey Dickson.

Edwards moved to the US in 2004 to pursue his rodeo dream and was also a member of the intercollegiate college rodeo team.

He was granted a scholarship to the most prestigious college team through Tarleton State University and from there competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and a few other organisations.

Edwards retired from saddle bronc riding in 2014 and took up team roping where he has earned big money including a $100,000 take at the World Series Team Roping Final in Las Vegas.

“Rodeo has afforded me to live a full life of travel and I have a beautiful family of my own, with three daughters,” he said.

“I am keen to develop rodeo schools and clinics in WA to share my experiences.”

Further information on the Harvey Dickson rodeo at www.doublebarrelentertainment.com.au