By STACEY BODGER
REREWHAKAAITU - Rotorua's Rewi Hutchinson was among the budding cowboys at the Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo.
But none could beat eight-year-old Ramoan Neho at the annual event on Sunday.
Rerewhakaaitu, 36km southeast of Rotorua, has produced 24 national champions since the rodeo club was established in 1964.
At Sunday's 36th rodeo, Ramoan stuck his cowboy hat on his head and pulled on his glove as he eyed up the opposition in the Junior Calf Ride.
The youngster from Moerewa, north of Whangarei, watched as first-time riders like Rewi Hutchinson were bucked off the calves, and clapped with the 1000-strong crowd as three-year-old Cody Davis rushed out on a small black calf.
Cody, grandson of Rerewhakaaitu legend Merv Church who won 29 national rodeo titles, was plucked from the animal by his father, John, after only a couple of seconds to save him from being hurt.
The assistance meant Cody was disqualified - but he raised his hands in victory anyway as the crowd clapped his effort.
Ramoan was nervous about his ride after being knocked off a calf and dragged around the ring at a rodeo last Friday in Wairoa.
But Sunday's ride was perfect as he gripped the calf and waved to the crowd with his outstretched arm for eight seconds, putting him in first place.
This rodeo season is Ramoan's first, but he is hoping to emulate his 9-year-old brother, Jay, who won last year's national calf riding championship in his first season.
"I have really good balance because I have practised bareback horse riding on our farm so I can just hang on and on," he said.
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