THE annual Dartmoor Chute Out Rodeo is set to kick off, with a full program of events set down for tomorrow night.
The Dartmoor football oval will again be the setting for the popular event, with a top field of riders and stock to take equal billing.
It will be the 18th running of the event, with Woodall Rodeo Promotions again providing the rough stock for the night, which has been the case since its inception.
The event is the Dartmoor Football Club’s major fundraiser for the year, with the club always doing a good job to organise the event with Woodalls.
Generally the bulls are the stars of the show, with few riders able to hold on for the eight seconds required to gain a score.
The likes of Sam Woodall, Joe Down, Bryden and Ben Atkins, along with Sam Daly are just a few of the competitors in the main event – the open bull ride – with a total of 10 riders set to take up the challenge.
Woodall recently won his pro-tour rookie year and will want to continue his success in the category.
Casterton’s Ireland boys – Tanna and Cody – will try their luck against each other and the remainder of the field in the open saddle bronc, while a small field is set to compete in the open bareback competition.
There is no shortage of riders in the division two bull ride, while the division two saddle bronc will also see a small field compete.
The biggest field will compete in the women’s barrel race, which is always popular with spectators.
Once again, Sam Pratt won her pro-tour rookie year and will again look to continue that success tomorrow night.
Football club secretary Kim Pratt said it was good to have Sam Pratt and Sam Woodall on the list.
“It is a really big achievement for those two,” she said.
“They are classed within the high end of competitors and compete against the best, so it is good to have them.”
Down was another competitor Pratt said was performing well, with some recent victories after stepping up from the division two category into the open bull ride class.
“Sam Daly and the Atkins boys have been around forever, but this is Joe’s first year in Open,” she said.
“He is going pretty good in his first open season.”
Pratt said the division two bull ride boasted an impressive field, with 21 competitors.
“That is a massive field,” she said.
“They are not normally that big – it is pretty much up-and-comers, new people to the sport or others who have not cracked the Open.
“It is good to have that many numbers entered because you can see the sport growing.”
Another big attraction at Dartmoor is the women’s barrel race.
A big field of 36 competitors will take to the ring, with plenty of support from the crowd.
“Your general horse people do appreciate it,” Pratt said.
“It takes a lot of training, you have to cart your horse there, you have to look after it and you have to compete.
“The people who own horses really appreciate that side of things rather than just the rough stock.”
Of course the rough stock always attracts plenty of interest and Woodalls never let the show down.
The same can be expected this year.
“You can expect to see 10 of Ron’s (Woodall) best bulls,” Pratt said.
“He likes to show them off to the crowd.
“Tony (Woodall) will bring quite a few good Open horses as well, so you can expect pretty much the best stock.”
In its 18th year, Pratt said the event had become more than just a rodeo for Dartmoor.
“It is the major fundraiser for Dartmoor footy club, but also really great for other people in the community,” she said.
“The cricket club has a food stall, the Lions Club do the gate, it is the angling club’s major fundraiser – they do the raffle at the gate.
“It is probably the biggest community event in Dartmoor.”
Pratt said after feedback from the community and online she expects to break last year’s crowd figures, with possibly 4000 people expected to converge on the township.
The reason for its popularity comes down to a few simple things.
“Dartmoor is such a rodeo-based town,” Pratt said.
“We are all really passionate about it and so many people who live here have things to do with rodeo.
“We want to improve every year, so this year we wanted to make it really family orientated, so we have almost a sideshow of kids activities to make it fun for them.
“We want to continue to grow and behind every good rodeo is a good committee.
“We are so lucky to have such a passionate committee.”
As usual free camping will be available outside the grounds and at the Dartmoor camping ground.
Gates open at 4pm, with action to kick off at 6.30pm.
