as we begin a new week with a new event I just wanted to post some photos of our final day at the ABCRA National Finals. what a awesome week it was and we caught up with the fabulous people we have met over the last 12 months and also met great new people as well.

looking foward to bringing you albums soon, just catching up and about to pack up the office and head into the AELEC to set up my booth at the Landmark Classic Sale. more info on this shortly. 

 

growing up the daughter of a cowboy, all I ever wanted at nine years of age was to ride in a rodeo. earlier this week I had the pleasure of watching these fantastic young riders come out into the biggest arena in the country in front of hundreds of people and do what they do best...rodeo.

rodeo in australia is in safe hands with some talented little riders smokin up the ranks, look out seniors, they are gunning for you.

 

we have just finished day 2 of the junior national finals. what a well oiled machine this event is, we have had two days with one hundred junior competitors, bulls, barrels, breakaway and steers. oh and don't forget the poddy rides!

before each night they have a singer (country) as the pre entertainment. andrew and I were getting ourselves ready on the side of the arena with cameras, lenses etc when the last song was 'when will i be loved' was sung. this is a much loved favourite of those familiar with the classic movie 8 secs which is based on the life of lane frost, a famous american bull rider. half way through the song a young cowboy came into the arena, the fringe on his chaps flashing, hat pulled down and then he busted out the famous moves from the movie to this song. a very impressive effort from such a pint sized cowboy. he certainley is going to be a charmer when he grows up.

as i type Andrew is loading the last of the images from today, we will pick some for the press releases tomorrow and hit the sack. the above grid is from day one. 

deciders are tomorrow....round three. can't wait to see who comes out on top.

we have such a busy couple of months coming up I almost can't think straight. whether I am overcome with excitement of overwhelmed or both I'm not sure.

all starts tomorrow with a early start and we are helping a friend dig up grass trees, a random request in itself but she has paddocks of them and has gotten a license to sell a certain number a year. grass trees formally called black boys are highly sort after as they are so rare and native and I don't think you can grow them as such, I think you are very lucky to be able to see one in some areas. well at my friends there is literally 1000's of them. so the blackboyathon tomorrow shall be a eye opening experience to see if we can actually get the suckers out of the ground!

then the real work starts tomorrow at 3pm. the national finals junior rodeo starts tomorrow night and this will be the offical start of a week long contract covering the ABCRA national finals rodeo and campdraft. every since I was a little girl I have loved rodeos and can't wait to see the top junior riders show off their skills this coming week.

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so wish us luck and i will pop back and post on experiencing my first ever national finals as a offical photographer. going to be great, I think, oh dear here comes that feeling again. overwhelmed?

no lets go with excited!