A massive weekend in the mountains featuring two of the best bush rodeos around was had over Easter with Omeo on Saturday and Buchan on Sunday.
The ticket allocation for Buchan’s 2000 seats sold out on Friday night and the crowd just kept streaming through the gates at lunchtime Sunday.
The cowboys and cowgirls on the circuit travelled from Omeo to Buchan, with one cowboy competing at Omeo, then NSW, only to be back at Buchan on Sunday.
After a year off, the bulls were in good nick and proved too good for most of the cowboys with just a couple of full time rides and the announcer commenting the average ride time was about 3.2 seconds.
But the supportive crowd didn’t seem to care, it was all about being able to get back out and watch a good old-fashioned rodeo, complete with barrel racers and roping, as well as the entertaining ‘cowboy’s angels’ who went from protecting the fallen cowboys to throwing out lollies to the kids.
“The rodeo went off with a bang,” Buchan Rodeo secretary, Laura Rabbage, said.
“After a devastating time recovering from bushfires, it was so important for our small community to host an event again like the Buchan Rodeo, which couldn’t go ahead last year as a result of COVID.
“The crowd was kept entertained with a jam-packed day full of bull and bronc events with some making time and some hitting the dust.
“We are already in full swing organising another action packed day for Easter Sunday 2022.
“The Buchan Rodeo committee would like to thank all the incredible volunteers and sponsors for all the hours and time they put in to making the day as successful as it was. After a sellout crowd this year, we hope you don’t miss out on The Buchan Rodeo 2022.”
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Easter in East Gippsland means rodeo time and at Buchan on Sunday the action was electric with a sold out crowd treated to a spectacular event. After missing in 2020 due to COVID, both the organisers of the Omeo Rodeo, held on Easter Saturday, and the Buchan Rodeo, were thrilled to welcome back large COVID-safe crowds and put on a show for locals and tourists. PICTURED: Adam Hinkley holds on tight as he comes out of the gate. More photos page 44. K95-3201
