SPECTATORS will be on the edge of their seats eight seconds at a time when the 2018 Championship Chute Out Dartmoor Rodeo bucks into the country town tomorrow night.
A total of 125 thrill seekers have entered the prestigious event, which is marked as the “fundraiser of the year” for the Dartmoor Football Netball Club.
Riders will travel from across Australia to do battle with some of the best bulls and broncs in the nation supplied by Woodall Rodeo Promotions.
Alternator, Draw-Card, Jackhammer and Cotton-Eye-Joe are just some of the names expected to test the Open Bull Ride entrants.
The tough bucking action does not stop there.
The Woodall’s are renowned for their broncs also and Black Betty, Camp-Draft Joe, Rocky and Charlie Sheen will also make an eight-second ride difficult.
Before the action kicks off tomorrow, the Dartmoor Giants will host their Calcutta at the football club tonight.
The popular event will see those attending able to bid on their favourite bull riders, with full bar facilities in the club rooms and meals available.
Gates open at 5.30pm (Victorian time) for a 6pm start.
While the Open Bull Ride is the feature of every rodeo event, the entertainment will be much broader.
The youngsters will test their luck in the junior bull riding, while saddle bronc, bare back and barrel racing will also be on show throughout the night.
It will be impossible to miss the action this year, as organisers have highlighted the inclusion of a big screen to showcase all the action in the arena.
Dartmoor Football Club secretary Allysa Junkers said she hoped a crowd of around 3000 people swarmed to the country town for tomorrow night’s event.
“This is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, so we hope to get a good number of people,” she said.
“The whole club is excited about the event.
“It tends to be a great night out.”
Junkers said the endless support from the Woodall’s is appreciated.
“We are excited to have the Woodall’s on board again,” she said.
“It is the 17th year of the rodeo and they have always been apart of it.
“It just makes it that little bit more special, they have supported and grown the event to what it is today.
“They bring some of the best bulls and broncs in Australia, which certainly puts on a show for the crowd.”
There will be an additional twist to the entertainment this year as the focus will turn to old school shearing during the break.
A demonstration of quick shearing with blades will be on display during the evening, which Junkers believes ties in well with the event.
“They approached us to put on a show and we were quiet excited about it,” she said.
“It is something different and a lot of people probably have not seen it before.
“There is a lot of shearing that goes on around this area, so it is good to get something to the show that is a bit unusual.”
For those interested in testing their bull riding skills the mechanical bull will again feature at this year’s rodeo.
The younger children will be kept entertained with a jumping castle and face painting on site.
Junkers said the event will be well catered with a full bar, coffee and a barbecue will also be available, plus canteen facilities.
She believes the weather effected the crowd numbers last year and is hoping the forecast is kind this weekend.
“We are definitely hoping for a bigger crowd, last year the weather turned a few people away,” she said.
“Hopefully the weather is the same as what it is saying and it is a nice day and a lot of people turn up.”
Patrons are also advised a free camping area will be provided on site.
Live entertainment from Any Other Sunday will carry on throughout the night after the completion of the rodeo.
Entry prices for the rodeo will be $20 for adults, $10 for children under the age of 16 and $15 for pensioners.
Gates open at 4pm with action set to kick off at 6.30pm Victorian time.
Program
Grand entry
Presentation of RSA Season 2017 Buckle Winners
Bare Back
Second Division Bull Ride
Second Division Saddle Bronc
Open Bull Ride
Women’s Barrel Race
Junior Barrel Race
Blade Shearing presentation
Break
Bare Back
Second Division Bull Ride
Junior Bull Ride
Open Saddle Bronc
Open Bull Ride
