Stunts galore at Mogumber

There may not be an airstrip at the Mogumber Tavern, but that didn’t stop a big crowd from witnessing an array of death defying aero stunts at the pub’s rodeo on Saturday.

Entertaining some very responsive fans, cowboys Malcolm Burgesson and Wade McCarthy must have had their imaginary wings on when they took turns riding the bull called ‘High Voltage’.

“He is a good bull to score high marks on,” Burgesson said, after the judges gave him a combined tally of 80 out of 100 points.

The very proud rodeo athlete said it was his first eight second ride on the highly ranked bull, but he was still looking to break his personal best score of 90.

After Burgesson set the benchmark at Mogumber, there was one particular rider that was out to better it.

Later that afternoon, Wade McCarthy took his turn on the mighty High Voltage and it was his seventh time on the powerful beast.

Again, the bull made the rider earn his spot, and even though McCarthy was running low on oxygen, he matched wits with his predecessor and scored brilliantly.

As the judge’s tally put McCarthy’s ride at equal points, the crowd went wild, relishing the fact that they just witnessed an almost unheard-of performance between the two bull riders.

McCarthy previously got his adrenalin pumping in the bareback ride when he scored 77 on the bucking horse Left Over’s to take the win.

The dual winner also had a good go in the saddle bronc event, but it was not to be as Rhys Morrissey, of Yalgoo, got plenty of jump-kicks on bucking horse Ned Kelly to claim the win.

Shannon Hitchcock, of Rockingham, also demonstrated the skill required to ride bucking stock, winning the novice bull event and placing fourth in the open bull ride.

While the cowboys laid claim to the airways at Mogumber, it was the cowgirls and their barrel racing horses that put down the speed and precision needed to make fast times.

In a first, Shelby Bowtell, 17, and her horse Freckles won the open race, in which she beat her two older sisters.

The sparkling new star was “in a time warp of shock” when she stopped the clock at 15.13 seconds, just 0.02 faster then her sister Amber, who claimed second place.

Also chalking up victory for the ladies of the rodeo circuit was Tammy Kinney and Elise Croft, who won the team roping event.

Both cowgirls were dual winners, with Kinney successful in the ladies steer undecorating and Croft winning the ladies break away.

Steer wrestling bragging rights went to Laurence Oversby, of Bindoon, while Mark Maxwell, of Darling Downs, won the rope and tie.

All in all, there were only a few bruises to report after a day of action-packed performances, something the fans will talk about for some time.