IT’S loud, it’s dirty and this Saturday night there’s nowhere else more than 100 cowboys and cowgirls a packed-out crowd would rather be, as the 23rd annual Dartmoor Chute Out Rodeo explodes onto the arena.
The annual fundraiser for the Dartmoor Football Netball Club and supported by local roughstock provider, Woodall Rodeo Promotions, the event sees bull and bronc riders and barrel racers from across the country, converge on the little south-west town, to test their mettle against some of the best roughstock in the country.
DFNC President, Josh Pridham said the club’s long-term relationship with the Woodall company had seen the rodeo grow to be a huge event benefitting the club and the town.
“The relationship with the Woodalls began when Tony was president of the football club, he and his family were instrumental in getting this going and making it a really successful major fundraiser for us and bringing huge crowds of people to town that use our local businesses,” he said.
He said the club’s decision this year to appoint a subcommittee to manage the event had brought even greater success.
“It’s been part of the club’s strategic plan … Steve Elllis is leading the group which has been working since the initial preparation stage in September,” Josh said.
“There’s so much work that goes into this … liquor licencing, maps, vendors, sponsorship and from my point of view, having this dedicated committee … it could not have been done better.
“Jess Childs is the sponsorship co-ordinator and this year is the greatest amount of sponsorship we have ever had for a rodeo.
“And it’s really thanks to the volunteers, the lead up with the committee early on … the last couple of weeks we have had a working bee, some volunteers have a week off work, couple days off work, in preparation to the rodeo and it has really come together to be our biggest and best ever.”
He said the next step in growing the event, was to spread involvement to other groups in the community, a process which had already begun.
“We’re really excited to have other groups from Dartmoor and surrounds get involved … we have got the Lions Club on the gate, the Dartmoor Primary School students selling soft drinks, the Angling Club is doing the raffle,” Josh said.
“Just having all those groups involved adds to the atmosphere and the sense of community.”
As thousands of past Dartmoor Rodeo attendees will testify, Saturday night’s event is a ‘cater-for-all’ night out, with singles, groups, families and friends all enjoying the night out by the arena, with plenty to do around the Dartmoor Rec Reserve, between riders.
“We have got sideshow alley, the jumping pillows again, clothing vendors and heaps of foodstalls to keep everyone fed.
“And of course the famous Dartmoor Football Netball Club steaks will be available from the barbecue on the hill.”
And for those who want to test their chops against a less terrifying version of the Woodall stock, the mechanical bull will be on-site again.
“I think it’s so successful because it’s at the right time of year, that first week in Feb is ideal for kids finishing up holidays and the weather is great,” Josh said.
“The fact that it is a family event, mum and dad can bring the deck chair with the kids, get a day pass for the jumping pillows, run around and have fun, the adults can head up to the wet area, have a cold beer, or relax on deckchairs.
“It’s safe and secure and you’re not going to get any views better the amphitheatre of that hill.
“I love looking up there and seeing the huge crowd of people looking down, the kids on the haybales … it really is just a great atmosphere.”
And for those who want to party-on after the main event, the rodeo committee has you covered on all angles.
“We have got Mud and the Truckers back, they’ll be getting in there playing all the crowd favourites at the bar and we encourage people to be safe, do not drink and drive because there’s plenty of free camping and toilets within walking distance and we have got free camping behind the sporting ground,” Josh said.
At time of going to press, more than 100 entries had been received across the nine classes for this weekend’s event, from the junior barrell race and bull rides, offering $500 each in prize money, through to the open bullride, where the winning cowboy pockets $2500.
“We’re really excited about this year’s rodeo and cannot wait to see everyone there for another action-packed night,” Josh said.