North Queensland Elite Rodeo

𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗗!
It was quite the day in many ways at the Hervey Range Rodeo grounds today, for the first go-round of the Donohues Tri-Nations Junior Elite Rodeo.

Just hours before the event was to begin all power was lost after an Army aeroplane took out a powerline (all on board OK) that knocked out power in the whole area!

Scramble time!
Kick in the generators, kick-in all the back-up plans that have seen this already iconic event in its 10th year continue to grow and grow.

Net result, we ran and the Team that ran the best on the day from the USA, NZ and Australia to take an early lead into round two was the Aussie Team who hold a forty point lead over Team USA and 80 points over Team NZ going into the second go-round tomorrow which will take place immediately after grand entry.

The downside of the power outage is we didn’t have a sound system so no commentators so it was hard to match-up photos with riders, but you’ll see from the photos these kids have got all the skills and we are in for a thrilling next two rounds until we crown the champion team on Saturday night.

Points allocations are: 1st 40pts, 2nd 30pts, 3rd 20pts and 4th 10pts

TODAY’S RESULTS (unofficial until ratified overnight)

𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘
1st Corrissa Evans (USA) 17.920 secs
2nd Bianca Haugh (NZ) 17.944 secs
3rd Charlee Jo Hodge (USA) 8.187 secs
4th Pier Dickfos (AUST) 18.240 secs

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚
1st Charlee Jo Hodge (USA) 3.40 secs
2nd Cruz Leahy (AUST) 3.45 secs
3rd Felicity Montgomery (NZ) 3.60 secs
4th Kodah Lovett (AUST) 3.90 secs

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚
Just one qualified run by
1st Mason Iker and Cruz Leahy (AUST) 9.70 secs

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟴-𝗨𝟭𝟭
1st Axton Hale (USA) 60pts
2nd Will Lahtinen (NZ) 58pts
3rd Rowell Hartley (AUST) 56pts

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟭𝟭-𝗨𝟭𝟰
No scores

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦
1st Rory Clarke 67pts
2nd Bronzen Mara-Skellern 63pts
3rd Rylee Mallalieu (NZ) 59pts

𝗔𝗚𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝟭
Australia 180pts
USA 140pts
New Zealand 100pts

Come and support these incredible young rodeo athlete tomorrow, their skills, speed and determination are just a sight to behold.

All the best to each and everyone of you in your events tomorrow in front of a pretty much sold out arena, some ticket left here: https://www.northqueenslandeliterodeo.com.au/

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦!
Every year, something new is added to the Hervey Range Rodeo Grounds, the latest (after the extension to the Party On The Hill), is the Rattlesnake Saloon complete with ice cold beer and a little stage for a bit of Honky-Tonk into the night.

No wonder this is Australia’s favourite rodeo venue and you should see what Quentin and Sandy have planned for next year!!

It’s open over the Curley Cattle Transport Pty Ltd. NQ Elite Rodeo weekend, come and check it out!

Photo and words Stephen Mowbray

Ayyyy look out!!! 👀 It’s about to go down. Henasi - The Last Sound Bender Andrew Zaro are taking over the nqeliterodeo Barn Afterparty this weekend!!
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𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡!
We’re thrilled to welcome the Donohues Tri-Nations Teams to the Hervey Range Rodeo Grounds, Australia’s favourite rodeo venue for the 2026 Donohues Tri-Nations contest.

We have many outstanding Junior cowboys and cowgirls representing Australia, New Zealand and the USA in the rodeo events of Barrel Racing, Breakaway Roping, Team Roping, Mini Bull Ride 8-11, Mini Bull 11-14 and Junior Bull Ride over three rounds, the first of which will be held this afternoon.

Today all the competitors came to the grounds and were given a arm welcome by Deputy Mayor Suzi Batkovic, a motivational speech from Cowboys coach Todd Payten then enjoyed a fabulous lunch prepared by Aunty Margaret before accepting the team jerseys from Quentin Kersh.

A quick photo opportunity then off to meet their horses!
Some had already gone so we’ll do full team photos during the weekend!

We wish all the young cowboys and cowgirls all the very best and can’t wait to see which team will be awarded the fabulous handmade trophy on Saturday night!

𝗜𝗧’𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗨𝗡!
Just one day to go until the 10th Anniversary edition of the Curley Cattle Transport Pty Ltd. NQ Elite Rodeo and we can’t wait to see you all here at the Hervey Range Rodeo grounds, Australia’s favourite rodeo arena.

A few, important notices pinned to the top of the page, especially note printing or saving your tickets on your phone, internet can get a bit tricky out here when we have a big crowd.

Also important to note:

THERE ARE NO GATE SALES
THERE IS NO LIVE-STREAM
DO NOT BUY TICKETS FROM ANYONE SAYING THEY HAVE SOME FOR SALE – IT’S A SCAM!

There's only a few Friday night tickets left, get them on-line here:
https://www.northqueenslandeliterodeo.com.au/

Let’s get ready for some fun in the North Queensland sun!

𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗗𝗦𝗢𝗡’𝗦!
And what a crew it is this year!
They’re rodeo royalty in these parts, our very own ‘local’ 4th generation rodeo family and we once again welcome them ‘home’ to the Curley Cattle Transport Pty Ltd. NQ Elite Rodeo, it’s thrilling to have so many of you here!

It’s an extra-ordinary family tree, headlined by Bob Cook who rode cutting horses and western pleasure.

Bob’s daughter Ally herself was a cutting horse rider and Breakaway Roper and Bob’s son Greg was a bull rider and a ba****ck rider and now rides cutting horses and does horsemanship clinics.

Greg’s son Dalton will be competing this weekend at NQ in the Rope and Tie and Team Roping with Clayton Daylight, another family member!

Bob’s other son (the late) Nuce Cook was a great hand himself and a talented bull rider in the USA on the PBR Tour and made world finals a couple of times.

Ally married Steve Hodson who was a bull rider and calf roper.
Their union saw Courtney, Ash, Alex and Campbell all who have competed in rodeo and equestrian with Campell of course taken under the wing of the legend himself Shane Kenny as a young fella and taught how to cowboy before ‘growing up’ and becoming a champion himself in multiple events.

His impressive resume includes 5-time All Round (and current) Australian Champion, 5-time Australian Rope & Tie champion, 3-times Australian Team Roping Header Champion, he’s won the All Round at Mount Isa 4 times including in 2021 when his sister Ash was crowned All Round Mount Isa Champion Cowgirl and he’s won 2 Mount Isa Rope and Tie titles and 3 Team Roping Header titles.

Then we move to the next generation.
Campbell married Tylen Gibb (another North Queensland Rodeo Royalty family, that’s another big story for another day, champions galore there too!) and their two little ones Colby and Caleb.

Caleb will be supporting his big brother Colby as Colby seeks to make amends for being Reserve Champion in the Poddy Ride last year, Colby’s got his mind set on the ‘W’!

We’ll see Tylen ride in the Sape Industries sponsored Barrel Race and Campbell will have a full program riding pick-up in the bucking events with Lamar Cox, kindly sponsored by Cape Trib Camping then he’ll compete in the Townsville City Council sponsored Rope & Tie on Friday night, Steer wrestle in the Donohues sponsored event on Saturday night, Team Rope on the heels with Coben Ayers on the head in the Townsville Scaffold Hire sponsored edition of this event on Friday night.

Campbell's always a very busy cowboy and a special part of the team that has helped our rodeo grow and grow each and every year.

Courtney and Kris (former bull rider) have Jace (8yo) and Darcy (6yo) who will both (Darcy’s a maybe!) will be up against their cousin Colby in the Poddy Ride.

Ash and Clay Bush (Clay just won Rope & Tie at Cloncurry and Mount Isa so he’s covered the kid’s and his and Ash’s entries!).

Clay is also the 2016 Australian Steer Wrestling Champion and the 2017 Mount Isa Rope & Tie Champion along with a huge list of other titles around the country and he and Ash have their two daughters Teal and Katie entered in the Under 12 Barrel Race.

Teal will ride by herself and Katie will be led (word is Mum and Dad are having a foot race tomorrow to see who is quickest and gets the gig!)

Ash is competing in the SOS Diesel Services sponsored Breakaway Roping on Friday and we’ll see Clay in the Townsville City Council Rope & Tie and in the Townsville Auto Group Team Roping on Saturday with Aaron Bookluck on heeling duties.

And a shout out to more relatives in Jayden and Steve Bush who will Team Rope in the Townsville Scaffold Hire sponsored event on Friday night!

Alex and hubby Colin Cappler (current Calf Roper and Team Roper) have their 4yo twins Hattie and Cleo competing in the Haulmark Trailers sponsored Junior Barrel Race contest, we’re guessing each parent gets a run!!

Rodeo is family and this is one of the finest families in Australian Rodeo. But as we all know, rodeo itself is all about family.

The Hodson’s are one of the hundreds of families who travel the highways and the country roads to meet each week, to bring commercial wealth to the many country towns they visit, cowboys and cowgirls who relentlessly pursue and uphold the skills and traditions handed down over generations.

We celebrate and congratulate this family and the many others gathered here at the Curley Cattle Transport Pty NQ Elite Rodeo for our 10th Anniversary edition!

We hope you all have the greatest weekend ever!

𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝟭𝟭.𝟬𝟬𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆!

We love Bruce❤️ Thanks for entrusting him with us Formset Pty Ltd

Thanks for being a part of the Elite Rodeo family from the beginning POA Billboards❤️
Your support has been incredible!!

🤠🐂 The countdown is on! 🐂🤠

In just 2 days, the action kicks off at the NQ Elite Rodeo on 14th & 15th August, and we're proud to be celebrating an incredible milestone alongside them.

🎉 10 years of partnership 🎉 10 years of supporting local rodeo 🎉 10 years of being part of a fantastic North Queensland tradition.

Over the past decade, we've had the privilege of supporting an event that brings together competitors, families, sponsors, and communities from across the region. NQ Elite Rodeo continues to showcase the very best of rodeo while capturing the true spirit of North Queensland.

A big thank you to the NQ Elite Rodeo team and everyone who has made the last 10 years so memorable. We can't wait to see another exciting event unfold this week!

See you at the rodeo! 🤠

A massive shoutout to Anne and the team at Donohues for sponsoring the Tri-Nations Junior Rodeo❤️