The efforts of three local women have ensured what looks likely to be a stunning turnout at the first Tablelands Tuff E Nuff Ten Head Breakaway Roping competition next weekend at the Goulburn Showground.
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To be held across Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, the Tablelands Tuff E Nuff Breakaway Roping club was formed and the competition organised by Dot Dewsbury, with the help of her cousin Emma Peters and close friend Jodie Rigby.
Their inspiration for the event, came down to a simple matter of travel time.
"They usually run a 10-head roping competition up in Tamworth, but because it's eight hours for me and 16 for the Victorian girls, so we decided to have one here," Dewsbury said.
The decision has proven to be an astute one, as there are already 65 riders registered to take part, which Dewsbury said was a "fantastic" turnout to the inaugural event.
"We were were working on 40 to 50, so we're really stoked," she said. "Given that people are doing it tough with the drought and feeding stock, and being Christmas time as well [we didn't expect that many]."
The competition, Dewsbury said, would begin on Saturday with five or six rotations of riders who would take on six calves each, one at a time.
On Sunday, the competitors will take on three more calves each, before a final round will see them go in order of slowest to fastest with the final calf.
At the time of writing, entries had not yet closed, so the exact size and format of the competition had not been finalised.
With the unexpected response from competitors, Dewsbury confirmed the club was looking to make the competition an annual fixture.
Their hopes will be buoyed by the pre-Christmas timing of the event, which Dewsbury said was helpful. "In December, the rodeos are quiet this time of year, so we thought it'd be a good opportunity to have it," she said.
The competition has also received a warm reception from the Goulburn Rodeo Club and the Tablelands Tin Spinners barrel racing club.
"It's nice to have their support," Dewsbury said. "It's nice that all the clubs have gotten together to help the sport. It's all for the one sport, so even though it's different sections of rodeo, it all works to promote rodeo.
"We just want to see kids getting on horses instead of on the lounge playing video games. It's good to have a bond with the horse and compete, because without them coming through the ranks, [the sport of rodeo is] going to get lost."
The event has also been well supported by local businesses, who have provided prizes for winners and for a raffle which will be held on the day as well.
Along with buckles, which will on offer for winners of each round, there is a huge pool of prize money available as well, which totals roughly $9000, including more than $3000 for the overall winner.
Additionally, the winner of each individual round will be awarded $100 to go with their buckles.
Dewsbury described the club's support from its sponsors as "really good", and thanked them all for their kind donations.
Their generosity has no doubt been part of the reason why competitors have signed up from a wide range of areas. Along with the Goulburn locals, riders will come from Victoria, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Junee, Sydney, and Moree.
Entry for spectators to the event is free. The competition will begin from 9am on December 14, and 8.30am on December 15.
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