ONE of the biggest events on the Australian rodeo circuit threw open its gates this week and local champions will soon be riding north of the border to take to the dirt with the best in the country.
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Moree’s Wendy Caban is looking to maintain her standing at the top of both the barrel race and all around standings at the Warwick rodeo, which kicks off today.
“It’s the second best paid rodeo in Australia,” she said.
“The crowd is great; it’s ridiculous how many people turn out at Warwick. It’s a great atmosphere, a good surface and a nice big pen.”
Despite the prize money up for grabs and the costs involved in maintaining her horses, Caban is taking a relaxed approach into the event she is favourite to win.
“A win is always good,” she said. “[But] rodeo is like second nature for me, I’ve done it forever. I just like working with horses... for me it is just about having fun.”
Riding 20-year-old Spider, Caban conceded there would be quicker horses than hers, but said he was in good form and is well rested. Both horse and rider know what it takes to win — last year the pair were crowned Australian barrel racing champions.
“There are a lot of good people but as long as my horse is alright I don’t worry about anyone else,” she said.
“There will be another 52 good horses but my old fella will be alright.”
Caban has been riding since she was 14 years old.
Raised in Tamworth, she regularly watched her parents compete in rodeos and her brothers ride steers. Since then she’s enjoyed a glittering career on the Australian Pro Rodeo Association (APRA) circuit, winning its barrel race finals twice breakaway roping finals three times, and claiming overall Australian champion on four occasions.
Another local competitor who knows what it takes to ride his way to victory is Troy Wilkinson, who will head to Warwick to defend the bull riding title he won there last year.
“I’ve had other big wins in America and Canada but Warwick is very well renowned,” he said.
“They say it’s the most famous in Australia. To win the bull ride in Warwick means a lot because they get a record amount of competitors and they’re the best rodeo riders in the country.”
Wilkinson’s event will provide some of the highest-octane entertainment at the rodeo.
“When you see someone get jerked down off the bull, when you see that bull buck up close you see just how powerful it is,” he said.
“And when you get on top and the bull kicks, you feel that power. You’re hanging on by one hand and you’re just looking down going ‘oh my God!’…it’s a massive adrenaline rush.
“It’s the toughest sport on dirt.”
A diesel mechanic from Upper Horton, Wilkinson took the last two seasons of work to dedicate himself to rodeo, travelling between the United States, Canada and Australia.
Last year he competed in the Canadian Professional Bull Riders National Finals, winning the first day and finishing seventh at the end of the two-day event.
Earlier this year he took on the 98 best bull riders in the world at the Touring Pro World Finals in Denver, Colorado, finishing in fifth place at the end of the three-day event.
Wilkinson said the Australian riders “match it with the Americans and Canadians any day,” but that competition was mainly confined to the arena.
“You want to win, that’s your goal, and to win you’ve got to beat your mates,” he said.
“But you support your mates because at the end of the day it’s not you out there competing against your mate, it’s about the battle between you and the bull.
“You don’t have a say on which bull you get given so you’ve just got to turn up and ride your own bull, and if things go your way to come out of it as the champ.
“Rodeo people are great, it’s like a big family, you know there’s always a bed for you or a meal for you because everyone supports each other.
“But that said, there is always a bit of rivalry between the states and you do try to go out and beat the Queenslanders.”
Campdraft events began at Warwick on Monday and the rodeo events kick off tonight at 6.30pm.
Rodeo events will continue Friday and Saturday with the finals held Sunday.