Record crowd turns out for Onslow Rodeo

Cowboys and cowgirls saddled up on the weekend for a buckin’ good time at the Onslow Rodeo.

The red dust flew as bucking bulls and broncos made their riders grab hold for the ride of their lives at one of the Pilbara’s few rodeo events.

The two-day event drew a record- crowd of about 700 people.

At Saturday’s main event, riders competed in breakaway, rope and tie, barrel races, bareback, steer wrestling, saddlebronc, bull rides and more, before Backroads and the Dodge City Boys got the crowd partying well in to the night.

Gerard Oversby and Stacey Lambert were judged overall best cowboy and cowgirl respectively, while Madeline Spanjers and Kayne Lincoln were the best juniors.

Onslow Rodeo committee member Bruce Strahan said the event was slowly growing each year.

“As we improve the grounds we get more people out there,” he said.

“It’s part of the circuit now as well, we follow Pannawonica and this weekend is Broome, that’s helping us to get a record number of riders involved.”

Mr Strahan said the Six Gun Local Bull Ride was one of the major drawcards of the rodeo.

“We give six people the chance to ride a bull, but in order to do that they have to raise $1000 for a local charity,” he said.

“They have to wear a helmet, vest and gloves so the safety aspect is there, but they do get bucked off pretty quickly, I think the longest anyone managed to stay on was about two seconds.”

The Onslow Rodeo is a family friendly-event, with parents and kids travelling from Exmouth and Karratha to enjoy it.

“It’s something a bit different, a lot of people have never been to a rodeo but they really enjoy it” Mr Strahan said.

Most of the riders now head to Broome for next rodeo in the circuit.