Bucko Billy Rodeo founder and coordinator John Moss will celebrate the event's 20th anniversary with the first Indigenous bull riding championships for Queensland and the Northern Territory next year.
Mr Moss said he’d been thinking about running and Indigenous only event for some time, and thought it would be a great way to highlight the 20th Bucko Billy event.
“Their are some bloody good riders all across Queensland and the Top End, and I though it was time to showcase their talent,” Mr Moss said.
“Judging from positive early word, I think we’ll get a strong field of riders signing up to take part in the event,” he said.
Special guest and Queensland Rodeo Association (QRA) board member Angus Mitchell will preside as judge for the championships alongside Mr Moss.
“Angus has been competing since 1982, and has played a big part in the growth of the sport in Australia.
“He’s got a keen eye for talent, so he’s pretty excited to be coming up for the event to see if he can spot any untapped brilliance in the riders that compete.”
The great family night of rodeo action is set to feature the best bucking bulls in north Queensland with highly regarded Charters Towers-based stock contractor Adam Power supplying the stock for the night.
Mr Power said the bulls will present the riders with a real challenge, with Silent Rage who bucked off former PBR Australia champion Chris Lowe at the Troy Dunn Invitational last month and Palooka who has only been ridden once over his entire career among the bulls selected for the event.
“I’m also taking a young bull named Chilli Whack; the crowd love him, he moves like a cat on a hot tin roof,” he said.
The rodeo which will also shift venues to the Charters Towers Equestrian Centre will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2016 with gates opening at 3pm for a 5pm start.
Nominations for the event close on Thursday, January 14, with events open for novice, juvenile and open riders.
Great prize money will be up for grabs with $2000 for the winner of the open bull ride; $1000 for the novice bull ride winner and $500 for the champion of the juvenile bull ride.
A courtesy bus will be available to take spectators to and from the grounds over the course of the event; lucky door prizes will be up for grabs and camping facilities are available for those that want to make a night of it.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for pensioners and free to children under 14 years of age.
For ticket inquiries and general queries phone John Moss on 4728 6100.
All nomination fees can be pre-paid to the QRA by calling 4627 5687.
