Cut ’em out, pardner

By Justin Robertson
THE rusty steel gates were released.
A Hereford bull came barreling out at 100 miles per hour with a rider strapped to him like glue.
The rider bounced and bobbled like a rag doll until the bull bucked him off, flinging him to the muddy turf. He landed with a thud, but was OK. “He’s OK, ladies and gentlemen,” the MC quipped. Out they came, one after another. Some riders held on for eight seconds, others were tossed into the distance.
As a “city slicker” watching his first bull bucking contest, it was pure entertainment.
The organiser of this year’s 69th Lang Lang Rodeo and Ute Show held at the showgrounds yesterday, Jess George, said this year’s rodeo was a cracker.
“It was such a great day, the weather held up and was just perfect but I just want to thank everyone for their help because without it we just wouldn’t be able to put this day on year after year,” she said, adding it was her 11th year at the helm. “I was thoroughly impressed with the behaviour of everyone who came which really made it.”
Ms George said in past years the weather did its best to ruin the rodeo with drizzle and rain, but this year she couldn’t have been happier with the blue skies and warm conditions.
More than 50 utes of all kinds lined up in a row to be judged – dirty shiny, vintage – you name it, it was there. With bull riding taking the main arena all day, the dog jumping contest briefly took centre stage producing some amazing high-leaping feats and tumbles.
Patrons came far and wide to be at this year’s rodeo.
Trish and Tayla Johnston – mother and daughter – drove down from Gundagai to compete in the roping and bailing competitions with their horses “Trazz” and “Roy”.
Walking a lap of the showgrounds there was plenty for everyone to indulge in, with stalls such as Nana’s Heavenly Ice Cream, Alfie’s Fast Foods, Eva’s Dutch Pancakes and Cocktails and Mocktails. It was impossible not to have a good time. For the kids, pony rides and the ever-popular laughing clown carnival game kept them occupied.
Aside from carnival food and games, if you were to browse the stalls located along the fenceline of the showgrounds, you would have found some gems.
Stall owner, Mal Bell from Flemington lives in his motor home and travel to carnivals all around the country. He’s on the road six month of the year and sells T-shirts printed with funny slogans. “Sponsored by Centrelink” read one of them. “For me this is about lifestyle, I’m at these types of events most of the year and I make OK money from it.”
And on the local scene the Hopping Kangaroo stall had plenty of interested onlookers. It’s owned by Lang Lang’s Eric Eichin, who also runs a souvenir shop in Dandenong. His stall was full of custom made flags and flags from 120 different countries around the world. He also makes miniature boxing gloves half the size of a tennis ball that act as a rear-view mirror accessory.
“It’s my first time at the rodeo as a seller,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you watch the bull riding or dog jumps – it’s just a fun day all round.”