A Tumut teen’s developing an enviable reputation in the Riverina after storming the Wagga Pro Rodeo and now taking the top prize at Tumut.
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Cooper Thatcher, 19, has been pouring his soul into the sport in pursuit of the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association rookie saddle bronc title.
Thatcher had a heartwarming win on home turf in the open saddle bronc at the Tumut Rodeo on Saturday.
Thatcher rode Rain Man to completion, and finished five points above his nearest rival, on 79 points.
The result strengthens his campaign, that will wrap up in January if he qualifies for national finals at Tamworth.
Tumut local Dylan Weir will be hot on Thatcher’s heels in future.
Weir won both novice saddle bronc and bull ride events on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a national champion had a mind-blowing run in the open bull ride.
Jason O'Hearn, from a small town near Newcastle, scored 89 points on Jesse in the bull ride.
Young bull riding sensation Ben Thorp couldn’t match it with O’Hearn, but finished second on Motely Crew with 80 points.
In the open bareback, the hot favourite won by the skin of his teeth.
Tumbarumba’s Ben Hall scored 77 on TRC Charcoal, followed by Queensland rider Travis Heeb on 75 points and Travis Wheatley on 72 points.
Women’s rodeo sections were more populated than men’s sections on Saturday.
There were nearly 100 entrants in barrel race events – 70 in the novice section and 27 open riders. Steer undecorating and breakaway roping sections were divided into three rounds, filled with around 10 entrants each.
A newcomer to Tumut was impressed with the number of entrants –Luke Higgins, 19, from Sale, Victoria who won the novice bareback event.
It may have been his first Tumut Rodeo but it won’t be the last.
“I travel all around the place rodeoing, and I’d heard a lot of good things about Tumut,” he said.
“It really did live up to the hype, I think it was even better than what everyone told me.”
The regular Australian Professional Rodeo Association competitor said the popularity of Tumut dovetails with the growing popularity of ABCRA events.
“A lot of people turned up,” Higgins said.
“Entries are important, when you’re competing against a lot more people you know where you stand.
“The APRA seems to be going downhill a bit, not getting as many entries down here.”
He said rodeo in Queensland across both associations, has been booming.