By Jeremy Sollars
RECORD crowds flooded through the gates of the 2016 Carlton Dry Warwick Rodeo National Finals and Pryde’s EasiFeed Warwick Gold Cup over the weekend, with the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society saying crowds were up by a third during the seven-day event.
Society spokeswoman Kaye Christensen said the wet weather had very little effect with crowd numbers and instead made for more exciting viewing, particularly of the Warwick Rodeo National Finals, with Barrel Racers pushing the limits in the pouring rain on Friday night as well as the Steer Wrestlers battling it out in the mud “skiing” their way around the arena.
“Our newly-built shade covers over both the Portley and Cut-out stands proved to be of more benefit than just keeping spectators out of the sun, but protected them from the storms and allowed them to stay on to watch the great rodeo action,” Kate said.
“Thanks once again for supporting the construction of these two shade covers goes out to the Warwick Hack and Pony Club and the Riding for the Disabled Warwick.
“Overall, crowds were very well behaved throughout the whole week, with only minor incidents occurring that were quickly dealt with by security and police.
“Live streaming numbers quadrupled this year with the inclusion of live streaming for the full seven days of the event, from Monday 24 October.
“Live streaming was viewed in all states across Australia as well as overseas.”
Warwick Show and Rodeo Society president Dr John Kiss said the crowd was so big this year that workers and ground facilities were under “extreme stress”.
“The volunteer workers should be congratulated, that under very difficult circumstances, they were able to keep the show running and produce a rodeo and campdraft spectacle of a world class quality,” Dr Kiss said.
“Given the dramatic increase in numbers the Warwick Show and Rodeo Society management committee has already started planning to cope with an even bigger crowd in 2017 and beyond.
“To the workers, volunteers, sponsors and those contracted to the event from the Warwick community who have done so much work to enable us to run this event, we sincerely thank you all.”
See this week’s Southern Free Times on Thursday for more rodeo coverage, and browse our website to see photos of the final of the Warwick Gold Cup campdraft.
