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For the past 10 years the Gil Mathew Wagga Pro Rodeo has been thrilling crowds and providing cowboys and cowgirls the chance to showcase their skills.
John “Happy” Gill originally started the rodeo with his late wife Margaret when they saw there was a need for one in the region.
Since then the event has proven to be a popular night out for people in Wagga and the surrounding areas.
More than 4000 people walked through the gates last year and the same amount are expected at this years event on Saturday February 9.
Happy is proud to provide all the stock needed with this year’s event featuring some of his best bulls including High Fully Akubra (the highest bucking bull in Australia), Down Under, Dark Destroyer and Homicidal II.
“One thing Wagga should be proud of is that all stock are bred here at The Rock,” Happy said.
“They’re all born here and educated out here long before they go to a rodeo.”
The stock are made familiar with people so there is no stress when they are handled at home or at a rodeo.
“We teach them to leave the arena before we even buck them out,” Happy said.
“When they go to a rodeo they know what to do.”
Happy’s stock are used at rodeos across the country and most have traveled to four states of Australia going to a rodeo most weekends of the year.
While the best bulls and broncs will line up for the seniors there is a big push to encourage the younger generation with prizes up for grabs.
“This year instead of focusing on all the top names we’re concentrating on the novice riders or second division fellas,” Happy said.
“We’ve put up trophy buckles for those boys this year for bull riding, bronc riding, bareback bronc and steer riding.
“Everyone today wants to barrel race or rope but we need to encourage more roughstock riders.”
The number of roughstock riders is dropping but Happy said there is a similar situation in both Canada and America.
“It’s the same the world over,” he said.
“It’s not dying out but it is going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment.”