Coolgardie Rodeo promises bucking good time with bull rides, equestrian entertainment and cook-off

Get ready to don country attire and roll out your swag this weekend as the Coolgardie Rodeo & Outback Festival returns for another year of bull riding, equestrian events, and stunning vehicle displays. Each year a patch of land on the outskirts of Coolgardie is transformed into a rodeo arena, campground and country music hub, complete with food trucks, stage and bar. Organiser Bodean Buckingham said the event’s committee and volunteers had been hard at work preparing the site, with about 2km of temporary fencing installed. Mr Buckingham said the fourth annual rodeo promised three days of family friendly fun and excitement including live music, captivating blacksmith demonstrations, and dedicated children’s activities. The action will begin on Friday with gymkhana and junior rodeo competitions, followed by live entertainment from Powder Keg and Refactory Road. On Saturday morning, the ute and truck muster will be at Lady Loch Truck Bay, with prizes for categories including old school and unique trucks along with the best “camping rig”, muscle and work ute. At the event arena, the main rodeo will start from noon featuring breakaway and barrel races, steer rides followed by a fashion show. Bull-bucking action will heat up in the afternoon with bareback bull and horseriding for all experience levels, as well as steer wrestling. Rodeo-goers can then enjoy live entertainment from Helen Townsend & The Wayward Hearts before Claudia Tripp takes to the stage. Sunday will see the return of the Camp Oven and Slow Cook Championship, as well as market stalls and more entertainment. Tickets are available online and free camping tickets for three nights are also available. Sunday’s events are free entry. The much-loved Nullarbor Muster was cancelled this year as travelling to the venue along the Trans Access Road posed an “unacceptable risk” following excessive rainfall and heavy flooding in March. Mr Buckingham said anyone who bought tickets for the muster would receive a gift voucher for this weekend’s rodeo. “We’re just trying to help the Nullarbor Muster Club out and … look after the people who look after them,” he said. With attendees from across the country, Mr Buckingham said the Coolgardie Rodeo brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Goldfields economy each year. “The economic benefits of ... having events in the Goldfields is amazing,” he said. “Last year we got (attendees) from every state in Australia.”