RODEO FOR MELBOURNE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 March 1934, Page 7

RODEO FOR MELBOURNE

CENTENARY ATTRACTION RIDERS FROM CANADA. HOME OF GREAT “BRONKS.” An Australian horseman named MeCull lias been looking over Canadian ranches in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Pacific Coast and South-west States. recruiting rulers lor Australia’s lirst big rodeo, or ■•stampede,” to be held in connection with Melbourne centenary celebrations. says the Vancouver correspondent of the ‘New Zealand Jierald. Hitherto the rodeo has not been popular in other British countries, as the bucking strap, drawn tightly round the barrel behind the saddle, is regarded as cruelty. Alberta is the home of the ‘‘top outlaw blanks” of North America. Two horses from the “Cinderella Province,'’ Fox and Midnight, are household words among cowboys from pine to palm. Fox’s mother was a cayuse mare; his sire is unknown. He was bred at Last Chance by the McHughs, pioneer ranchers. In 1910, as a tlireo-year-olcl, he was brought in from the range to be broken, and unseated the best bronk riders “from the stations round about” until one, Guy Gibson, rode him successfully by using a two-liand hold on a rope around the shoulders. vear Fox was broken in to work on a scraper cutting dowu a Hillside in Calgary, where a doctor was building bis home. A teamster used to ride Fox home from work, sitting, sideways over the harness. To live down this insult bis name was altered to Reservation for his public career, which brought him fame as a ‘topliner” in the Pacific North-west. STATE FUNERAL FOR HORSE. Fox was never known to kick or iuinp* on a rider, to lose Ins feet- oi tall in all his bucking career except mice when Chet Mitchell let the rein slio from his hand, l'ox stepped on the halter shank and tripped, turning completely over. It was lucky fo Mitchell the ground was soft lox was sold ill 1919 to the Pendleton (Oregon) “round-up” the principal AVestern States “stampede, which clowned AlePhee, Australia’s only competitor iii North American rodeos, as “world champion bronk rider. Wehristened No Name Fox con jjnd fo unseat allcomers untd his .ctucineni. At his death he was accorded a State first saw the lighten the Cottonwood ranch m rhe A.bntn foothills.. His sire was a 1 ercherpa dam a thoroughbred mare llis own ev Jiniinv Ale Nab. was called aw a \ to urgent public business ni t‘ranoe while AlTdiiight was yet a. r-ui! detaining in 1919, Mt-Nab broke him to fhc saddle, and uded him as top pw-horst for range work for two years. Mm ■ was the onlv man who ever rotly Alu.night; but 'he knew that Midnight could throw him any time he do si. el. Yet McNab allowed his- small daughter to ride the big. black gelding around the rand), buildings. i After going round the coiinti \ show .. Midnight appeared at the Lalgar?•■stampede” in. 1924 and Vancouver the following year. T^ ei \ v A? changed hands, and joined' a Mild \Vest aggregation, touring Horn Aew York to Sau Francisco, where he was honoured by erstwhile champion riders who' bit the dust when they ti led to sit him for IK) seconds. Although "entle to handle, and •standing ouietlj to be saddled, Midnight was like a prairie blizzard when a leg was thiow n across him. A born ar.strocrat, with the manners of a lady, lie was photo graphed :;nd “news-reeled wlieieveI he went. BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST’. Thousands packed the stands at the Frontier Day celebrations ill Cheyenne, Wyoming, fast summer. On the J tst dav the "band stops playing. The announcer speaks. “The closing numuer will be a contest of human skill ami • dariucr between man and beast —tne survival of the fittest. Our rules nail for an attempt bv the new champion bronk rider. Turk Greenough, of ib" Ixidge, Montana, to ride for'eight seconds the outlaw bucking horse oi the century, the world-fumed black demon from the Canadian Alberta rangesMidnight, the Unconquerable!” A slim, lithe young cow puncher gallops his horse to an abrupt stop, doffs liis ten-gallon hat to the cheering crowd. “Attaboy. Turk!” “Ride him. cowboy!” “Pie’s bad medicine, Turk!” Head high in the air. his black coat in the sunlight, Midnight is led into the arena. His eyes blaze, his nostrils are-dilated. ■ Pawing the ground he throws his head nervously from side to side. Does he know this to he his last ride. His owner has announced that, as he is unbeaten in Ins eighteenth vear, he is to be retired to tlie sweet grass country in Western Wyoming,

THROWN IN TWO BUCKS

■ Entering tlie ; cMte, Turk supervises the srttldling : to the rail,-eases himself slowly' into the sail die. The horse makes'no movement. The rider is not deceived. He lias seen all this before. His feet set in the stirrups a firm hold with his left on the cotton rein, he pulls his hat down tight. “Open that gate; let’s go!’’ Midnight leaves the chute with a mighty 'bound, high in the air, lands on forefeet, gives a queer twist to his shoulders, and sets liis hind feet just behind the front ones. Again he leaps, this time drawing backward as he leaves the .ground; again that twist of the shoulders; again lie lands, to one side. A shrill scream from Midnight as ho leaps a third time—alone. It’s all over. The new champion is thrown in two bucks, under three seconds.! Crossing the continent, east or west, one mav pause on the transcontinental air or rail journey at Chugwater. Wyoming, call at the McCarthy and Elliott ranch. and .see Midnight, taking liis ease, in the evening of his life, after the manner of retired champions.