RODEO
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FORMER world champion cowboy Brad Pearce endured the best and the worst of rodeo competition at the Coolamon Rodeo on Saturday.
On a day of heart-stopping action, and heartbreaking drama, the Tooma star triumphed in the open bronc ride before coming to grief in spectacular style in the open bull ride.
Sadly souring his victory over Wantabadgery gun Cody Angland in the open bronco section, Pearce suffered a broken collarbone in a heavy fall in the subsequent bull-ride event at Coolamon Showground.
For more pictures from the Coolamon Rodeo click here.
Coolamon Rodeo organiser Jamie McInerney yesterday revealed Pearce’s injury had brought a disappointing end to another successful rodeo promotion in the town.
McInerney said an unfortunate clash with several other “functions” in the district had cost the second Coolamon Rodeo some support.
“The crowd was down a little on last year, but it was still a really good day,” McInerney said.
“We’d have had around 600 (spectators), and that was probably down about 100 on last year.”
McInerney said the future of the Coolamon Rodeo as an annual event was still to be decided, with the jury still out.
“We don’t really know yet,” he said.
“We’ll sit down and talk about it but we’re all happy this year.”
With profits poured back into facilities at Coolamon Showground, the rodeo has an important role in the town.
“Last year the money raised was used for a new septic pump and for a new water system,” he said.
“All the money goes back into the showground.
“It’ll be same this year.”
Recalling the outstanding competition in the specially constructed rodeo arena, McInerney said Pearce was the only major casualty, adding the timing of the fall had been remarkably fateful.
“It was the second last ride (of the rodeo),” McInerney said.
“It was really bad luck.”
For Tooma cowboys, the Coolamon Rodeo was a mixture of success and pain.
Not only did Pearce share a victory and a heavy landing, fellow Tooma competitor Matt Sheather won the open bull ride with a dominant display.
Like other winners on the rodeo program, Sheather and Pearce earned points on the Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings with their efforts at Coolamon.
It is expected the bulk of Saturday’s competitors in the Riverina will now head to Queensland for the rich two-day Warwick Rodeo next weekend.