Plenty of good weather, plenty of vocal support and plenty of fun (and the occasional spectacular spill) made the Upper Mohaka Rodeo a colourful place to be on Saturday.
And a great place to be if your name was Shaun Tahau.
The Te Haroto 11-year-old showed he has a more than promising
career in the saddle after taking three wins and a second place at the annual rodeo which has become one of the highlights on the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association 2nd Division circuit.
"Yeah he's pretty excited, "his father, and one of the organisers, Simon Tahau said.
"He can't stop talking about it."
The youngster's efforts saw him receive the title Cowboy of the Day for taking the most event wins.
The good weather, in contrast to rain last year which kept the crowd down to about 600, attracted about 2000 people this year.
"We got a great crowd - it was an awesome day," Mr Tahau said.
About 100 competitors, including some from as far afield as the South Island, took part in horse and calf riding, bull riding and barrel racing. One 'mainlander' was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital with suspected broken ribs after being stomped on. "It happens - it's part of it," Mr Tahau said.
The children in the crowd had their chance to take to the dirt for the sheep catching run, and there was also a tribute to Joshua Bennie, the Napier 12-year-old who died in a collision with a van while cycling to school last Wednesday.
