Mark the diary for Saturday May 11, dust off the boots and grab a hat because ROAD TO RODEO Mount Isa is back, and it’s bringing a little of the buckle bling, broncs, bulls and big rides of the famed Mount Isa Mines Rodeo with it – for just one day, as an important community and regional event in the lead up to the big one in August!
Announced today, Road to Rodeo Mount Isa 2024 will take over the famous Buchanan Park Events Complex on Saturday May 11 with action all afternoon and into the night, plus a Rodeo Rock concert headlined by the nationally acclaimed chart topper and multiple Golden Guitar winner Jetty Road and ARIA charting Route 33 with rising country star Brooke Schubert, along with local band Pacific Groove.
Natalie Flecker, CEO of Isa Rodeo Limited said Road to Rodeo was an important event for the Outback and the local community.
“Road to Rodeo is being staged in Mount Isa in 2024 by Isa Rodeo Limited in partnership with the Mount Isa City Council and Mount Isa Mines. We introduced Road to Rodeo in 2022, and in its third year it has become an important event for the Queensland Outback, for all our riders and competitors, and for fans and families,” she said.
“I’m thrilled to also announce that as part of Isa Rodeo’s commitment to supporting and growing young indigenous rodeo competitors, the second Isa Rodeo School Clinic, supported by the Queensland Governments Department of Sport, will be held the day before, on Friday May 11 from 3.45pm in Buchanan Park Arena led by legendary cowboy Darren Brandenburg, along with famed Isa Rodeo leadership team members Steve Hilton and Darryl Chong,” said Natalie.
Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade said from its inception in 2022, Road to Rodeo had become an important prelude to the revered Mount Isa Mines Rodeo in August.
“With immense pride, the Mount Isa City Council embraces the opportunity to continue to champion both of these extraordinary events. We commend Isa Rodeo for bringing the thrilling Road to Rodeo to our cherished community, again in 2024. As the exhilarating rodeo action, electrifying live entertainment, and contagious joy unfold, it makes the perfect event for Mount Isa to host again, in the year that our iconic mine, Mount Isa Mines, celebrates turning 100.”
Sam Strohmayr, Chief Operating Officer, Zinc Assets Australia said this year Mount Isa Mines marks 100 years of operation and 65 years of partnership with iconic Isa Rodeo.
“Through decades of strong partnerships and collaboration with the people of Mount Isa, we have invested in education, health, environment, Indigenous, and community development programs. One of the most enduring is our partnership with the Isa Rodeo, host of Road to Rodeo, the Indigenous Rodeo Championships and the famed Mount Isa Mines Rodeo each year in our community,” he said.
A full rodeo program will take place with nominations open on 15 April with Natalie Flecker calling on past riders and debut riders to mark the date in their diary.
Will the 2023 champs return to the famous red dirt arena?
The Road to Rodeo action was fast and furious in 2023. An ecstatic Cloncurry cowboy Darcy Harrison-Douglas took the Open Bull Ride in a brilliant last-ride-of-the-night. Joining Darcy in the winner’s circle was Gracemere’s famed cowboy Tyler Chong, who won the Saddle Bronc and Richmond’s Deon Lane who won the Bareback Bronc with a spectacular ride. The multi-titled cowboy Campbell Hodson added his second Road to Rodeo Rope & Tie title to his mantlepiece.
Team Roping was won by Winton’s Brian Forster and Daniel Guilford from Leeton in NSW, while Cloncurry’s Tatum Kersh took out the Breakaway Roping, fellow Cloncurry rider Kylee Ferguson won the Open Barrel Race and Taroom’s Brian Lovett the Steer Wrestling.
In 2nd Division young Newcastle cowboy, who now calls himself an Outback Queenslander and is working with champion cowboy Donovan Rutherfurd, won the Bull Ride, and Jarrod Hall from Cloncurry took the Saddle Bronc sash.
The busiest cowboy of the day was young Cloncurry rider Cade Ferguson. He rode in five events and took the title for two – Junior Steer and Junior Barrel. His rides in the 2nd Bull and Saddle Bronc events and the Open Team Roping mean he’s definitely one to watch! Rounding out the results was the fiercely fought Poddy Calf Ride, with 13 nominations. Young Ashley Murphy beat the field and was the proudest winner on the day.
Road to Rodeo Mount Isa 2024
Saturday May 11 from 12noon
Gates open from 12noon with kids rides and activities, community food trucks and market stalls, there’s also a special gift on arrival for all the mums (given the next day is Mother’s Day!). Local band Pacific Groove kicks off the action at 12.30pm and rodeo starts in the famous red dirt arena from 2pm through to 9pm when the Rodeo Rock Concert takes over into the night. At 6pm the Official Opening and Grand Entry will be held, always a huge highlight at Buchanan Park, and highlights of the 2024 Mount Isa Rodeo Festival will be shared.
Ticket Prices:
Adults $30 + booking fee, 17 years and under FREE
Gold Coin donation on entry to go to Mount Isa & North West Qld Breast Cancer Support Group
All information isarodeo.com.au
Tickets https://www.isarodeo.com.au/road-to-rodeo-mount-isa/tickets/
Rodeo Rock – The Music:
Jetty Road is a multiple Golden Guitar-winning trio starring identical twin sisters Lee Bowman and Paula Bowman, on vocals, with Julian Sammut on lead guitar. Constant chart toppers, they’ve released six albums, Full Circle (2005), Dirt Roads City Lights (2007), Life at a Million Miles (2009), Far Away Places (2011), Hearts on Fire (2015) and Because We Can (2019), won two Golden Guitars and have toured the world alongside the cream of country music including Tim McGraw, Glen Campbell and yes, even Taylor Swift!
Route 33 is the Queensland-based duo Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle. Growing up in Kingaroy, and on the Sunshine Coast, the two met on the sporting field, jammed together one fateful afternoon, and have played together ever since. That was almost a decade ago, and they are now an ARIA #1 Australian Country charting duo and in hot demand for festivals because of their incredible stage presence.
Brooke Schubert is a young country singer on the rise. She shared the stage with Keith Urban on his ‘Light the Fuse’ tour, released three successful singles last year and has had over one million streams. She’s a powerhouse live performer and the perfect guest with Route 33.
ICYMI (in case you missed it):
In news that’s as exciting as an eight-second ride at Buchanan Park, Isa Rodeo Limited took GOLD and SILVER at the recent prestigious Queensland Tourism Awards. The incredible double win included GOLD for the 2022 Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships in the Festivals & Events Category, and SILVER for the 2022 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo in the Major Festivals & Events Category, proving the rodeo festival truly is the greatest show on dirt!
“If our famous red dirt of the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo arena could talk, the stories would be of a world class competition, record entries, riders from across the nation, fairy-tale endings, brilliant bulls and broncs, whip-fast times, fearless cowboys and cowgirls, and a wave of super talented juniors. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back again in 2024,” said Natalie Flecker.
Key facts:
Save these dates:
- Road to Rodeo Mount Isa – Saturday 11th May 2024
- Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships – Thursday 8 August 2024
- Mount Isa Mines Rodeo – Thursday 8 August to Sunday 11 August 2024
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