North Queensland Elite Rodeo

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟!
Ruby Bell and ‘Bounty’ are the 2026 Haulmark Trailers Junior NQ Elite Rodeo Junior Barrel Race Champions after a fabulous 17.359 sec run.

The talented cowgirl won the third round at the NFR and placed fourth in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association - APRA NFR aggregate but has already shown her intentions for his season leading the Junior All Round Cowgirl rankings and the Junior Barrel Race rankings for 2026.

And she’s only getting faster, stronger and even more skilled and talented!

1st : Ruby Bell and ‘Bounty’ 17.675 secs
2nd: Breanna Boyden 17.675 secs (sorry, no photos)
3rd: Sonny Pritchard and ‘Sunny’ 17.829 secs
4th : Payton Hill 18.095 secs
5th : Bianca Haugh (NZ) and Clara Perry’s ‘Bruce Lee’ 18.135 secs

Congratulations to Ruby and ‘Bounty’ and all the place getters and a huge thank you to Haulmark Trailers for your massive support of our Junior Rodeo program.

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

(If you know horse names, please let me know in a message and I’ll add – thank you)

𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘!
Poddies goes to mini bulls goes to steers goes to junior bulls goes to novice bull and before you know it they've gone and grown up and they're getting on open stock, bull or broncs or ranch broncs and they're on their way to champion!

Our 2026 Poddy Ride Champion is Levi Ashbacher with second place going to Rowell Hartley with Colby Hodson completing the podium in third place.

Write these names down and in 15 years you'll be saying 'I saw that kid at NQ Elite in the Haulmark Trailers Junior Elite Rodeo back in 2026!!''

Thanks to Haulmark Trailers for being such incredible supporters of our junior rodeo and a big thanks to all the dads, uncles, big brothers and rodeo family mates who helped the littliest cowboys and cowgirls get on and have some fun in the arena.

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘-𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗢 … 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗘!
For some it’s their first rodeo, for other more ‘seasoned campaigners’ it’s maybe their second or third or maybe more but whatever the number, what was evident, in the smiles on their faces is that this is fun!

Sometimes it’s hard to know who’s having more fun, the led line holder or the little athlete!!

Many of our littlest cowboys and cowgirls are of course 2nd or third or 4th generation rodeo competitors and they were led by a rodeo mum or dad, a rodeo sibling or a member of the family that is also a rodeo competitor (or was).

This is family, this is really special and what an incredible sport we have that spans the generations, where families can compete with and against each other, there is no other sport quite like the one we know and love called rodeo.

These photos are free to share, if you want an un-watermarked copy, please send me a message to my photography page, might take me a little while but you’ll get it!

In the interim, please share, please thank the amazing Haulmark Trailers team for sponsoring our Junior Rodeo and please come back and do it all again next year.

And thank you all for letting me be part of the rodeo family through the lens for many, many years now.

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

The future of New Zealand Bull Riding is looking bright 🤩

Well done to Ty Blake who took out the Junior Bull Riding average at the North Queensland Elite Rodeo Tri Nations Challenge 👏🔥

It’s hard to know where to start but from the bottom of our hearts we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this year’s Curley Cattle Transport Elite Rodeo such an amazing event❤️
So much work goes into creating an event this size and there’s so many people to thank for that
First of all, our family, extended family and great friends who for the last 10 years have been a part of this journey with us. We couldn’t have done it without you
Our incredible sponsors!!
Ones that have been here from the start and new ones. We love you being part of the Elite family and appreciate so much for your support.
All of our staff, paid and volunteer, Secretary, Photographers and film guys!
The very talented Rodeo athletes that wow the crowd every year with their skills and agility.
The wonderful Community Groups who worked on our gates.
Regan and his awesome team for running our bars.
Our gorgeous ladies that kept the toilets clean and our rubbish collectors who did an amazing job.
All of our Announcers, Arena staff, Protection clowns, sound guys & big screen staff Thank you!!
Our awesome Stock Contractors 🐂🐴
All of the very talented singers and musicians who performed on the big stage as well as in the Barn and Rattlesnake Saloon🎶
The Bus drivers for getting everyone here and back home safely.
Last but not least our incredible Elite Rodeo fans for supporting us throughout this journey and always being such a great crowd!!

If everyone could take the time to fill out our Survey from Qld Tourism that would be greatly appreciated. Please pass it on to everyone who came with you.

https://ierpty.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAVRBECKhJla14a

𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗬 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡!
He’s a local.
He’s been here since day one at the Hervey Range Rodeo Grounds, Australia’s favourite rodeo venue and on Saturday night it truly became his favourite rodeo ground too when this local legend who won our first Poddy ride in 2016 returned for our 10th Anniversary event to win the Open Bull Ride with a 85.50pt marking on ‘Riddle Me This’ on Friday night in the Meridian Helicopters Australia sponosored Bull Ride to mark the number no other cowboy could chase down.

Poddy to champ – Congratulations Dallon Finch, it doesn’t get more local nor more special than that!

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!
Congratulations to all of our newly crowned champions and placegetters in the Haulmark Trailers Junior Elite Rodeo.

These young rodeo athletes put on an incredible show on a perfect North Queensland Saturday morning and the smiles and the fun were embraced and loudly supported by the morning crowd.

It’s from these beginnings that our future champions grow, like Dallon Finch who won our first Poddy Ride back in 2016 and a decade on was crowned our 2026 Open Bull Ride champion!

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘
1st : Ruby Bell and ‘Bounty’ 17.359 secs
2nd : Breanna Boyden and ‘Truffles’ 17.675 secs
3rd : Sonny Pritchard and ‘Sunny’ 17.829 secs

𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟮 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗦
1st Piper Dickfos and ‘Strawbs’ 17585 secs
2nd Jenna Holden 18.988 secs
3rd Frankie Lane 31.428 secs

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚
1st : Kodah Lovett and ‘Smooth pebble’ aka ‘Pebbles’ 3.00 secs
2nd : Charleigh Delacour and ‘Johno’ 3.65 secs
3rd : Torah Hintz and ‘Ice Cream’ 4.10 secs

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 – 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
1st Ruby Bell and ‘Emoji’ 7.40 secs
2nd Kodah Lovett and ‘Smooth Pebble’ aka ‘Pebbles’ 8.60 secs
3rd Mason Iker and ‘Apache’ 8.95 secs

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 – 𝗛𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿
1st Augus Smith (NZ) 7.40 secs
2nd Wyatt Gill 15.25 secs

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟴-𝗨𝟭𝟭
1st Keller Lasley on ‘Rocky’ 63pts
2nd Joseph Jackson on ‘Reaper’ 61pts
3rd Chilla Hartley on ‘Sketchy’ 60pts

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟭𝟭-𝗨𝟭𝟰
1st Joel Jaszcyszyn on ‘Huff ‘n’ Puff 58pts
2nd Jax Dickfos on ‘Who’s Your Daddy’ 56pts
3rd Byron Kirk on ‘Chicken On A Stick’ 54pts

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘
1st Angus Smith (NZ) 75.50pts
2nd Ty Blake (NZ) 74pts
3rd Dakota Truckel 70.50pts

And then there’s everyone’s favourite event.
Here’s our littlest future champions on some exceptional bulls! :

𝗣𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗬 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘
(bull names and scores except Levi’s adjusted, it was close!)
1st Levi Ashbacher on ‘Chainsaw’ 82pts
2nd Rowell Hartley on ‘Bodacious’ 81pts
3rd Colby Hodson on ‘Bushwacker’ 80pts

What an amazing Haulmark Trailers competition it was.

A huge congratulations to our champions and placegetters and the biggest thank you ever to Haulmark Trailers for sponsoring the future of rodeo, we are so grateful for your support of our event and the future of our sport.

𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗥𝗜-𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘!
In an exciting final round, Team Australia managed to hold on to win the Donohues Tri-Nations Junior Elite Rodeo Challenge with Kodah Lovett stopping the lock in 3 seconds flat, the fastest time over three rounds to win the Breakaway Roping and claim maximum points for her team then the two young gun ropers Mason Iker and Cruz Leahy got the chocolates in the Team Roping with a 9.85 second run then little Chilla Hartley stepped up and claimed third place in the Mini Bull Ride with a 60pt marking to see the Aussie Team finish on top with 470 points, 30 points clear of the USA and 120 points ahead of a fast finishing NZ Team who won the final day with a 190pt tally.

A huge congratulations to Team Australia and indeed to all the young cowboys and cowgirls whose performances and spirit over the three rounds of competition was exemplary. A massive thank you to Anne and the Team at Donohues for their incredible support of this Junior competition and a huge thanks to Kylee Ferguson for putting the teams and event program together and for looking after everybody, many a long, long way from home!

We over herd the Kiwi’s devising their strategy on how to win next year and no doubt Team USA will be plotting their strategy to take home the fabulous trophy and title!

We can’t wait to see this event again here at the Hervey Range Rodeo Grounds, Australia’s favourite rodeo arena and hope that all the young stars had a great experience and made some lifelong rodeo friends.

𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦
𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘
1st Corrissa Evans 18.072 secs
2nd Bianca Haugh 18.135 secs
3rd Felicity Montgomery (NZ) 18.590 secs
4th Danika Fuller (NZ) 19.075 secs

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚
1st Kodah Lovett (AUST) 3.00 secs
2nd Bianca Haugh (NZ) 13.65 secs

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚
1st Mason Iker and Cruz Leahy (AUST) 9.85 secs
2nd Charlee Jo Hodge and Jax Dickfos 11.45 secs
3rd Bianca Haugh and Felicity Montgomery (NZ) 20.75 secs

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟴 – 𝗨𝟭𝟭
1st Keller Lasley (USA) 63pts
2nd Joseph Jackson (NZ) 61pts
3rd Chilla Hartley (AUST) 60pts
4th Will Lahtinen (NZ) 57pts

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝟭𝟭 – 𝗨𝟭𝟰
NO SCORES

𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗘
1st Ty Blake 74pts

𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝟯 𝗧𝗢𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗦
New Zealand 190pts
USA 110pts
Australia 100pts

𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗢𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗦
Australia 470pt
USA 440pts
New Zealand 350pts