Charlie Bond from Cherbourg won the all-round cowboy award, the open bull ride and novice bull ride whilst 16-year-old Robert Oakley from Woorabinda took out the juvenile bull ride.

Young Beau Button from Cherbourg won the encouragement award trophy.

The rodeo was six months in the planning and organisers Pauline and Shaun Shortjoe were delighted with the crowd which numbered almost 1000 on day one.

“This will be bigger and better next year and I thank everybody who has

come,” Pauline said.

The only downer was the large number of freeloaders who managed to get

around one side of the ground to watch the action free of charge.

There were people from all over North Queensland and beyond as they gathered at the non alcohol event and police reported no incidences other than telling youngsters to stay back from the fence when bulls were in the arena.

It was a massive logistics exercise to get the animals, and infrastructure there to hold such a big event.

Bulls were brought from Einasleigh on two Nissan UD trucks by Glen Mosch and Graham Quinn and calves and steers from Charters Towers.

They came across the ocean by barge from Lucinda.

Clowns for the weekend were Ben Moss from Charters Towers and Billy-Joe Rea from Clermont who both saved some fallen bull riders from serious injuries.

Moss himself was charged viciously by a bull as he tried to climb the fence and then later came to the rescue of local Tim Asai who faced serious injured under the hooved and horns of a 600kg animal called Blackjack.

Rodeo announcer Justin Price from Townsville was glowing in his praise of the event saying that some of the 70 competitors showed genuine ability.

Judge Darcy Davidson from Charters Towers was impressed as was Bucko Billy Rodeo promoter John Moss.

“This can grow into a very big event and we have some plans along with

Pauline for next year,” John said.

*More pictures in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.