The Queensland Outback was the setting for the biggest rodeo in the country and it attracted riders and ropers from just about everywhere
The world-famous red dust of the legendary Mount Isa Rodeo in the Queensland Outback has called riders and ropers for 65 years and 2024 was up there with the best events of all time.
Running from 8 to 11 August this year’s rodeo opened the chutes, set the barrels and tightened the girths on the best cowboys and cowgirls in the country.
It’s the Southern Hemisphere’s largest rodeo and the third largest rodeo in the world, and this year champions returned to battle for the famous buckles where newcomers become legends and juniors make a rise up.
Eight seconds seemed like a lifetime as the heritage and importance of this major rodeo event in the Outback was celebrated in 2024.
Bull ride champion crowned at Isa
A Giru cowboy from near Townsville has taken the top buckle at the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, 28-year Braydon Wellby is the 2024 Open Bull ride Champion.
He’s had a superb rodeo season, winning and placing from Tamworth to Townsville over the past few months and has now taken Australian rodeo’s best of the best title.
In further highlights, the legend Bob Holder from Cootamundra, the oldest certified competing cowboy in the world at 93 was honoured with a custom created Over 90s Header Buckle.
While every Mount Isa Mines Rodeo buckle designed by the famed Eddie Fisher is individual and highly sought after, this one is special.
It’s the only Over 90s Header Buckle in the world, ever presented to anyone (Bob rides as the Header in a Rope and Tie Team).
If Bob was an Olympian he would be equivalent to Micheal Phelps, Arina Titmus and Simone Biles all rolled into one.
Bob makes the 2,200km trip to Isa every year, with his daughter Kerrie who is a champion barrel racer. He said he’s been to thousands of rodeos and still loves everyone.
He’s competed in rodeos for 78 years, has a proud place in the Australian Rodeo Hall of Fame and has inspired generations of riders across the country.
In another very special moment, Bob rode with the youngest Roping Competitor today, young nine-year-old Tate Smith from near Tamworth NSW, who said all he wants to be is a professional roping cowboy.
The 84-year gap between these two cowboys faded away as they galloped down the arena, ropes in hand, concentration on their faces and love of rodeo in their hearts.
“Never give up, keep practising and to keep on riding,” Bob said to Tate.
Spiderman comes unstuck in the main arena
One of the much-loved final-day events at the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the Superhero Bronc Ride, where the best cowboys and cowgirls in the country don costumes and have some fun
A highlight was 19-year-old cowboy Bailey O’Dell from Eddington 1390km west-northwest of Brisbane who dressed as Spiderman and came spectacularly unstuck.
Bailey O’Dell walked away without a scratch and the crowd lapped up every minute of it.
Country star James Johnston returns a king
Two years ago, James Johnston sang at the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo before the main act – and the crowd loved him.
This year he returned a king, heading the CAPACITY rodeo rock concert at the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest rodeo, and the crowd loved him even more.
James has achieved phenomenal success with boot-stomping songs about life in the country. He’s “the man of the people” and an artist quickly on his way to achieving global success.
This is off the back of an enormously successful 2023, where James released his history-making 20-track debut album, “Raised Like That,” and staged a sell-out five-city Australian regional tour, he became the most in-demand streamed Australian-based country music artist.
See some of the best moments of the 2024 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo and winning rodeo rides on video here.
