RODEO
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WAGGA Pro Rodeo has hit another snag with a number of the nation's best cowboys unable to compete this weekend.
After rained washed off the event on February 15, a wedding has derailed organisers efforts to attract a star-studded field.
Wedding bells will ring for Brad Pierce and his bride-to-be Tayla Johnson in Gundagai on Saturday with fellow riders Cody and Rhys Angland and Tyler Pendergast all ruled out of the event to attend the wedding.
The Anglands and Pendergast will be Pierce's groomsmen with Pierce's bucks party last weekend also saw a number of the leading riders miss Narrandera's rodeo.
Despite wanting to compete in the event the choice was an easy once for Pierce.
"I don't think I would have been getting married if I went to the rodeo," Pierce joked.
"It's a bit of bugger as we haven't missed out on the Wagga Rodeo for a fair while and I always seem to go good there, but these things happen.
"I'm sure it will run next year and I don't think I'll get married at the same time next year.
"It wasn't meant to be that way as I was talking to 'Happy' (John Gill) before it even started and said not to run it on that day, but when it got cancelled it was the only weekend he could do it."
With both Pierce and Johnson growing up in the sport the majority of their wedding guests will be splitting their time between the two events.
"Pretty much all of the groomsmen were going to be in rodeo and there are a lot of guests coming over that are going to ride a little earlier and then come back over," Pierce said.
"I think Sean Lynch is going to the wedding then going to get on his bull and come back to the wedding for the party."
Despite ruling out a number of the Riverina-raised riders, Pierce said the timing of the wedding could also work in the Wagga Rodeo's favour with a number of guest travelling for the wedding and looking to compete.
"There are also quite a few people that are riding because they are coming to the wedding," Pierce said.
"Glen Kent, an Australian champion bronc rider, is coming to the wedding and will be riding if he gets an early enough go and he wouldn't be coming to the rodeo if the wedding wasn't on the same day."
Wagga's rodeo has been brought forward thirty minutes with the action to start at 6pm.
DETAILS
What: Wagga Pro Rodeo
Where: Equex Centre
When: Saturday, action from 6pm, gates open 4pm
Cost: $25 per adult, $10 per child
Catering available