Margie Maccoll
Young junior cowboy Jessie Amber was aiming to stay the point-scoring eight seconds in the novice horse ride event but he was bucked off a few seconds in, then his hand got stuck hard in the rope, and it became a terrifying battle between freeing his trapped hand and hanging on for dear life.
It was just half an hour into the Honky Tonk Rodeo Promotions staged in conjunction with Noosa Country Show and its third event when the announcer told the crowd the U18 cowboy was “in a little bit of trouble“.
“This is where our pick up man Stuart Grayson is going to drive a rope around the neck of this horse.
“This young man is as tough as nails, our pick up men are doing their very best.“
It lasted only 32 seconds but felt a lot longer as the crowd watched transfixed while the teenager was bounced about by a frantic pony as the pick up man raced in to hold the horse and release the cowboy.
“That cowboy did the exact thing you want to do when you’re in that position, you want to stay on your feet and if you somehow can’t stay up there it’ll make it even harder to get out of that bareback rigging, that’s how tight those hands are squashed in there.
“Nice call for Jessie Amber,“ the announcer said as the young man was released and walked from the arena.
The rodeo was a thrilling event which brought some of the best bovines, horses and riders to Pomona Showgrounds on the second night of Noosa show, drawing a crowd that spilled out from a packed arena.
