Isa Rodeo - Yee - haa!

Wow! Our first rodeo – what an experience! It was actually very entertaining, not to mention great for some interesting photography. I took 144 photos but as you can imagine because the subject is moving all the time, you just have to keep clicking away to get that one fantastic shot. I think I got quite a few good ones but I had to use a high ISO in order to have the light and shutter speed I needed. I did some on 1600 and some on 3200 so they are a bit grainy and using my big zoom meant that there is a little camera shake occasionally but hey, it’s my first rodeo. Likely to be my last but you never know! It was fun to see what the big event in Isa is all about and that was just the preliminary event advertised as a family night; “Man against beast!” Saw a few more cowboy hats than we’re used to in Melbourne.
They had cowboys riding bulls, damn big scary looking beasts too, and also riding horses bareback, bareback bronc riding, and holding on with one hand as they do. The rodeo clowns earned both our respect with their antics and way of distracting the animal while the dumped rider found his way to safety or encouraged it to head towards the gate out of the arena. One actually got stomped on which made him to drop to the ground in pain for a while but he got up and carried on like the troopers those guys are. I can’t imagine what the pain of a huge, heavy bull landing on you would feel like, but I’m guessing it was excruciating! The crowd didn’t applaud and cheer as much as I would have thought they would but then some people were definitely there to socialize more than to watch the action in the arena. Outside there was a whole amusement area with rides, dodgems, games where you hit, catch or knock down something and you win a revoltingly coloured stuffed toy – as if we haven’t got enough luggage in our car as it is.
So, it’s a big event here in Mount Isa and we have only seen the mere beginnings of it. We did hear on ABC radio on our way to Isa yesterday that they are taking measures to curb troublesome behaviour such as fighting by serving mid-strength rum after 11pm at rodeo venues; Bundaberg rum being the drink of choice among Queensland cowboys. It will be interesting to hear if it was effective or not.
Well, off to Tennant Creek tomorrow.

Photos are of one of the rodeo competitors in action, the Buchanan Park where the rodeo was held, and Mount Isa city from the lookout. (See the 3 tall towers of the smelters?)