From 8am on Sunday, December 30, rodeo goers will have an opportunity to see some of the country’s best bul lriders, camp drafters and the acclaimed country music stars The Wolfe Brothers. 

Rodeo director Alyssia Coates said they have had so many entrants for this year’s events, switching to a multi-day schedule was an easy decision.

Kicking the rodeo off on Sunday morning will be a camp drafting event with close to 100 riders taking part, before a stockmans event, a junior rodeo and live music later in the evening. 

Camp drafting is a showcase of a horseman’s technical skill in both horse riding and stock control. 

“It is horse and rider, it comprises cutting out a beast from a herd of five to ten beasts,” Ms Coates said.

“And they have to control that beast in a figure 8, and that is a timed event.”

“And then we’ve got a stockman’s event which is a championship like a cross country race. And we’ve got a handy stockhorse event, and we’ll also have some whip cracking events.” 

Later on Sunday afternoon Tasmania’s largest junior rodeo, featuring 54 riders from all over Australia, will be sure to entertain the crowds. 

Ms Coates said several promising interstate junior riders have been sponsored to take part in the Smithton Rodeo, including Holly Forster and Sam Woodall. 

“[Sam Woodall] is the APRA rookie bullrider of the year and he’s coming down to ride in the open bull ride. He’s drawn a bull called Rattle and Hum, who has not been able to be ridden [the full eight seconds] this year,” Ms Coates said. 

Sunday night will wrap up with a performance from Jake Sinclair, who is fresh from a performance at the Gympie Music Muster and was a finalist in this year’s Toyota Star Maker competition at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Gates will open again at 8am Monday morning, with whip cracking performances and the bullock team of Ritchie Wells. 

The open rodeo event will kick off at 1pm with 184 runs and riders set to compete, before the open bull ride category and local rodeo events at 6pm. 

Tasmania’s own country music stars The Wolfe Brothers will be there to perform on Monday night, before Queenslanders Eight Second Ride take the stage to ring in the New Year. 

Tickets are priced for one and two day entry for adults, and there are also family passes available, while children under eight-years-old enter for free. 

For more information visit www.smithtonrodeo.com.