By DANE LILLINGSTONE
HE may not have taken out the big prize but Warwick local Michael Maher can hold his head high after a tough Warwick Rodeo.
The 2014 Australian Professional Rodeo Association’s saddle bronc champion couldn’t repeat last year’s heroics but that didn’t stop him from being a hometown favourite.
Coming in to the rodeo as the saddle bronc favourite along with Warwick’s Mark Collins, Michael has come a long way since high school.
“I’ve been riding broncs for probably 10 years now,” he said.
“I was one of the first members of the high school rodeo program in Warwick. It was actually part of our high school curriculum. It was our physical education. Instead of playing football we’d come down and ride steers.”
Michael said he knew almost instantly it was something he wanted to pursue.
“I liked it. I knew I could go places with it,” he said.
“I’ve been riding calves and steers since I was five or six. I got on my first saddle bronc when I was 16.
“It took me probably two years to be able to get going and get on the road and compete competitively with everyone else.”
Since then Michael has carved himself a nice career with a highpoint coming after winning in both Warwick and Mt Isa last year.
“They are probably the two biggest rodeo events in Australia,” he said.
He responded instantly when asked what the hardest part of his job was.
“Falling off,” he said.
“Hitting the ground is probably the hardest thing. With saddle bronc riding it’s a little bit different. A lot more technical stuff goes on. With bull riding it’s kind of like hold and go with the bull.”
From a broken arm to stitches in the head, Michael said during the event he was happy to be in front of a home crowd.
“It’s good to be home, it’s good to have family and friends behind you,” he said.
“I definitely get nervous.
“At the end of the day, the best of the best are here.”
With his first performance in Warwick coming in 2005, there is no doubt he will be back doing it all again next year.
