Rodeo, horse (and lizard) races rock the red centre
From around central Australia they gathered on red dirt this weekend in a natural amphitheatre cut from bush in Harts Range, 215 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs.
Stockmen, ringers, mounted police – it was on for young and old as Northern Territory pastoralists and the Atitjere community met for the 71st annual Harts Range Races and Rodeo.
Running and lizard races, a ladies cow tail toss and bush night rocked the Plenty Highway.
And while the ‘race that stops a nation’ attracts horses whose names ring around racetracks the world over, Harts Range runners were unregistered station horses from across the red centre.
For the record, local Alitjere man Davis Jr Bird’s won the 700m final, Les ‘Hollywood’ McLaughlin’s had a star turn in the saddle bronc and 10-year-old Larron Cook took out the 11-and-under whip crack.
Then the red dust settled on Mt Riddock Station and revellers rode off into the sunset – until next year.