Leary took time off from the sport he loves after damaging a shoulder in the rough and tumble of rodeo riding and spent his down time in the boxing ring.

But after a shoulder reconstruction he was the only bull rider to log a score in the first round of rides at the annual Ross Rodeo, with a 75-point ride on Road House, the same bull with which he scored points at Carrick.

Leary was unable to back up in the second round of rides, but the 75 points he scored on Road House secured him the bull riding competition.

Rodeo organiser Robert Brown said that although spectator numbers were a bit down on previous years, everyone had a great time and enjoyed the warm, sunny weather.

``It's a sign of the times across the state, people just don't have as much money in their pockets and events like the rodeo suffer as a result,'' Brown said.

``But we'll keep it going, numbers will pick up again as the financial climate improves.''