STREET PARADE In CROYDON & RODEO EVENTS

11^th July Street Parade from the Pub. At 10 am.

There were prizes galore for best float/best beaut ute/best country style ute/best decorated bike/best decorated business. Not that many entries but it was all in good fun, with the Chinese dancers following the riders on horseback and then the various floats all heading for the Rodeo grounds.

The Croydon Poddy Dodgers Festival, Station Challenge events commenced at 11am. Not a cloud in the sky and the temp already climbing up into the low 30’s. There hadn’t been any rain for months and they didn’t expect any time soon. It was going to be tough on the horses and the competitors but somehow it didn’t seem to bother them. We chatted to some of the young guys who were from the Golden Gate Station and what riders they turned out to be. It shouldn’t have surprised us really as later on we saw kids still in their nappies being led around on a lead taking part in the events.

Men’s Events

Saddle up & Ride Relay-

Briefly – (The Rules)

One person lies down in his swag, has to get out and roll it up and run 20 metres carrying his tucker, a warm beer and a cold pie, put his shoes on and runs on to the next person who picks up his saddle, blanket and bridle, takes the tucker and runs to the next person who saddles the horse takes the tucker and rides back down the arena, jumps off his horse and then has to drink the warm beer and eat the nearly frozen cold pie to finish the event. This caused great excitement especially as that by this time most of the contestants had been celebrating the night before and most likely had started again and weren’t feeling any pain. So you can guess all sorts of things went on which caused riots of laughter from the crowd and the contestants.

/Calf Scuffing- (The Rules.)

On go one member of the team pulls the gate of the shute open to let the calf out, 2^nd and 3^rd member of the team scruffs the calf to the ground and one of them ties the legs up to prevent the calf from getting up and running away. Calf must remain tied up for at least 5 seconds. Needless to say this was also a great event which caused a great deal of excitement. (Sorry I was unable to load the video of this)

/Fencing and Sandbagging.

Women’s Events

Saddle up & Ride/Calf Scrubbing/Hay bale Rolling/Broom Throwing

Kids Events

Wrestle the Rooster-

Briefly - a rooster is let loose and all the kids have to chase it until one of them catches it and returns it to the judge. Prizes for the best dive, best miss, and fastest run. The only problem was the rooster got out of the arena and all the kids went chasing after it across the fields and out of sight of us all, until eventually one of them came back carry it in triumph.

/Hobby Horse Barrel Race Relay/4 Legged Race/Egg & Spoon Race.

This and many events took place for the rest of the day and then it was over to the music and some serious partying by all.