The Australian Championships Braidwood Rodeo is on April 10, 2010 at the Braidwood Showgrounds.

The Slack Start is at 8am with the main events starting around midday. In the evening there is a dinner dance.

Buses will travel from the Braidwood Post Office to the event and return afterwards - details on the website

For more information, contact the Braidwood Rodeo Club PO Box 147 Braidwood, NSW 2622. 
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or phone the secretary: (02) 4842 2454 or 00400 879 049

See also the website (designed and sponsored by "The 4WD Guy") at www.braidwoodrodeo.com.au

Other details may appear on the following websites: www.braidwoodnsw.com.au and www.visitbraidwood.com.au

It's been 30 years since there's been a full program of rodeo in Braidwood.

That's 3 decades we've missed out, so read on and see how you can help out with breaking the local rodeo drought.

The Braidwood Rodeo Club intends to hold the Southern Zone Finals of the ABCRA 
(Australian Bushmens Campdraft & Rodeo Association) at the Braidwood Showground on Saturday 10th April 2010.

Braidwood Rodeo Events

ROUGHSTOCK RIDING

Saddle Bronc - It is considered to be the most technically difficult of the three roughstock events. Contested in a saddle, the horse wears a head stall and the rider has a single rope rein and has to keep their other hand free and are judged on their style and spurring motions.

Bareback - is generally considered to be the most physically punishing of all rodeo events. Cowboys ride using a rigging and the horses head is free.

Bullriding - is the most thrilling of roughstock events. Bulls buck differently to horses- they are a lot heavier and bend and twist. Spurring is not as significant in bullriding as in saddle bronc and bareback. If a cowboy is thrown from a bull before he has a chance to release his hand from the rigging he runs the risk of being 'hung up' and flung around before he can free himself.

TIMED EVENTS

Steer Wrestling - A steer is released from the box and the competitor rides up beside the steer which another rider is trying to run in a straight line. The competitor leaps out of his saddle grabbing the steer by the horns and throwing the steer off balance so that it is 'wrestled' to the ground.

Rope & Tie - The contestant ropes a calf around the head or horns from horseback. As soon as the rope has found its mark the contestant jumps off and lifts the calf onto its side and ties three of its legs together. When the calf is tied the cowboy remounts to loosen the rope on the calf to demonstrate the roping holds for 5 secs.

Team Roping - two mounted ropers, a 'header' and a 'heeler' work together to catch a steer. The header needs to rope the head or horns of the steer, turning it at a right angle to the arena so that the heeler has the opportunity to rope the legs. Time is recorded when both catches have been made and the horses are facing the steer with both ropes taut.

LADIES EVENTS

Barrel Racing - A cowgirl moves in a figure 8 pattern between 3 barrels in as fast a time as possible. The horse needs to move fast between barrels and turn sharply around barrels. The fastest time wins.

Breakaway Roping - The beast has a head start. The cowgirl chases and lassos its head or horns and the horse comes to a stop. The beast keeps running until a string attaching the rope to her saddle horn 'breaks away' at which time is recorded.

Steer Undecorating - Similar to Steer Wrestling, however the cowgirl leans down and plucks a ribbon from between the steers shoulders and holds it up within 3 or 4 seconds.