National Finals Rodeo rides into the Tamworth Country Music Festival

Tamworth is embracing everything country this week with the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo galloping into the city and hundreds of competitors travelling from across the country to compete.

Throughout the year, riders compete at Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association-affiliated events to accumulate points, with the top 15 point-scorers from each rodeo discipline earning an invitation to the National Finals.

Australian Champion titles, buckles and significant prizemoney are on offer at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), with the National Finals Rodeo running from January 22 to 24.

With the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo underway during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, competitors and officials alike say the scale, atmosphere and significance of the event set it apart on the national calendar.

For new ABCRA chief executive Mr Chris Webb, the National Finals have arrived just one week into the role and seeing Australia’s top competitors converge on Tamworth was a highlight.

“I think what I’m really looking forward to is seeing the best talent in Australia come together,” he said.

Mr Webb said hosting the National Finals alongside the Country Music Festival presented a rare opportunity.

“It’s such a monumental week for the region and also the state, but also the country,” he said.

“We’ve got people coming from Western Australia and the Northern Territory to compete here.

“To showcase the best talent in the best event, in the best facility… what an opportunity.”

Local competitors Maddi Edwards and Adam Maher said competing at AELEC added to the intensity of the National Finals as it was their home ground.

Ms Edwards, who is competing in both the Steer Undecorating and Ladies Barrel Race, said the venue created an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the country.

“AELEC is pretty special for that,” she said.

“There’s nowhere else in the country, I would say, that can create an atmosphere like this one. Especially Friday and Saturday night, it’s pretty loud and there’s a lot going on; it’s exciting.”

Ms Edwards said preparation for the National Finals focused on ensuring both horse and rider were ready for the demands of competition.

“Preparation personally, was about getting the horses fit, making sure they’re up to scratch on their part and probably myself included,” she said.

“Especially for the barrel racing horses, you need a horse that’s pretty fit to go for three nights in a row.”

Mr Maher, who is competing in the Team Roping and has qualified for and competed at the National Finals many times, said the timing of the event during Country Music Festival week added to its appeal.

“I think, like Maddi said, it’s about the atmosphere,” he said.

“You don’t go to many other venues like AELEC, and I think that’s what makes the National Finals a bit more special here in Tamworth, during country music week.”

Mr Maher said living locally meant competitors were fortunate to have a world-class facility close to home.

“We’re probably spoiled living here in Tamworth,” he said.

“There are so many people who travel to rodeo, but we’re lucky enough that we live here and we utilise this venue so many times throughout the year.”

Both competitors highlighted the strong junior participation at this year’s National Finals, with strong crowds attending morning events.

“There’s a lot of young ones coming through the ranks at this point in time,” Ms Edwards said.

“To be honest, some of the junior events are probably hotter than the open events at this point.”

Alongside the competition, the National Finals Rodeo will again host its annual fundraising night in support of the Cancer Council NSW, with Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night on Friday, January 23 and the region’s businesses have jumped on board to support it.

Cancer Council Tamworth Community Fundraising Co-ordinator Sally-Anne Whitten said the fundraiser had been part of the National Finals for many years.

“This year, instead of a blanket drop, we’re doing a raffle,” she said.

“We’ve got some lovely prizes donated from some locals, which has been great. Tradies support the ladies will be on board, and they’re going to help us walk around with some donation buckets as well.”

Ms Whitten said funds raised on the night would support a range of local services.

“The funds raised go to support things like our local Inala House, transport and treatment, and our other advocacy, education and prevention,” she said.

She said the fundraiser typically raised between $5,000 and $10,000.

“It’s a really great fundraiser for us,” she said.

“It’s also nice to see everyone decked out in pink.”

Ms Whitten said while pink still carried some stigma for some, community support continued to grow.

“The tradies say that they still get pulled up by people when they wear their pink shirts on Fridays,” she said.

“They’re trying to get everyone to start the conversation about it because a lot of those guys have had a mum or a sister or a partner or someone have cancer, so they’re very happy to wear pink and get on board to support a friend or a family member.”