General News
10 August, 2021
Saddle up Mt Carbine
BULL and bronc riders from across the region are saddling up in preparation for the 20th annual Mt Carbine Bull and Bronc Ride this Saturday, August 14.
BY ELLIE FINK
BULL and bronc riders from across the region are saddling up in preparation for the 20th annual Mt Carbine Bull and Bronc Ride this Saturday, August 14.
From the very first ride in May 2001, the event proved popular amongst the region, with 381 cowboys and cowgirls making their way through the gate.
Secretary of the Mount Carbine Rodeo Association Karen Pedersen told The Express that the first committee was formed in 1999 to start their very first bull ride.
“The people back in 1999 decided they wanted to get together and form a rodeo so they did that on July 5,” she said.
“They had a couple of fundraisers and then in 2001 we had the first bull ride at 12pm and had a band playing at night.
“Over $1500 was raised and donated to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and because they felt pretty successful, they continued to have more and then it became an annual thing.”
After four years of riding and the popularity growing more and more, the committee decided to host their first night rides.
“In 2004 we decided to trial a night time ride, so we hired lights and it was a success and since then we’ve had the night time ride starting at 5pm,” Mrs Pedersen said.
“Since then we have had the same annual night time bull rides and now we have the bronc’s as well.”
Now 20 years on, Mrs Pedersen said the event will recognise one of the committee's first members with a new trophy up for grabs.
“We are going to have one of the original committee members Dennis Ross’, now deceased, two granddaughters singing on the night as a tribute,” she said.
“We also have a special Dennis Ross Memorial Trophy that will be awarded on the night to the juvenile winner.”
After last year's cancellation due to COVID, Mrs Pedersen and the Rodeo Association hopes to see this year's events up and running, with only a few changes including signing in with the COVID Check in Qld app.
Mrs Pedersen said that in the future she hopes to see more young people getting involved as volunteers and committee members to keep Mt Carbine on the calendar each year.
“I think it's really good having the bull ride run for the last 20 years, it's a credit to the members of the association and also to the volunteers we have every year,” she said.
“We have at least 90 volunteers a year to help on the night and without them we wouldn’t be able to run such a successful event.
“Hopefully we get more young people to come onto the committee and take on the roles of us oldies in the future.”
Mt Carbine Bull and Bronc Ride is a cash only event with tickets available online at www.trybooking.com/events/ landing?eid=763626&
Gates open at 10am with the event kicking off at 5pm. Live music with Careless starts at 9pm.
