Cowboys Are A Tough Bunch And That's No Bull

Illawarra Mercury

Monday December 13, 1999

By JODI ALLEN

Many are the attributes of the successful rodeo competitor.

To take on 800kg of fighting mad, bucking bull you need to be agile as a cat, brave as a lion and at least as determined as the beastie you are clinging to.

If you are planning on making your career in rodeo a long one it also pays to be able to sprint the distance between where you hit the dirt and the safety of the chutes at least as fast as Carl Lewis.

Two of the riders at Saturday night's South Coast Bull and Bronc Riding Championships found making a clean get away a tough assignment.

One suffered a dislocated shoulder, the other a dislocated elbow after being momentarily hung up in their mount's ropes.

All up it was a big night for the bulls.

Out of 20 competitors in the feature event, the open bull ride, only three managed to stay on board for the required eight seconds.

The title was shared between Dan Kelly, of Mundoran, and Michael Berg, of Goulburn, who each scored an 83-point ride.

Rockley cowboy Brett Hanrahan picked up the winner's cheque in the novice bull ride, while Craig Heffernan took out the steer ride just ahead of fellow Singleton rider and lone female competitor Suzie Bush.

The women's barrel race was won by Badgerys Creek's Sandra Martin.

The third annual running of the South Coast championships attracted a crowd of 3000 to the temporary rodeo arena behind Brownsville's Dandaloo Hotel.

Sponsors included Prime TV, Wave FM, National Hire, Dunmore Sand and Soil, Windscreens O'Brien, Coastline Bricklayers and MJ Rowles.

The success of last year's event earned the championships a place in the finals of the Southern Illawarra Business and Tourism Awards.