Mataura Rodeo

Congratulations to all the NZRCA Junior Champions!! 👏👏👏
We are especially proud of our very own Club member, Clayton and Miss Kitty. Well done!!

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗗𝗔𝗬!
How many cowboys can say that!!

We know one!

His name is Clayton Perkins and this humble, talented young cowboy just won All-Around Junior Champion Cowboy of New Zealand (his second win, his first in 2023-2024) and he is also the 2025-2026 Junior Barrel Race Champion on his amazing mare, the 9yo ‘Miss Kitty’, (they won again today at Urenui Rodeo, their 7th win for the sea*on and then to top off an extra-ordinary sea*on this incredible combination also won the 2025-2026 NZRCA Junior Breakaway Roping title after wrapping up their 8th win for the sea*on.
Just wow!!

Through an ‘interpreter’ (aka Alyce, his mum as they faced the big drive home to Gore) Clayton was proud but didn’t say too much, (my interpretation - he did what he needed to do in the arena).
Did we say this champion is humble?
And who doesn’t love a humble champion?

In the few words we got from him he did say that he wanted to thank mum Alyce and dad Anthony and his younger brother Hunter (also a talented young cowboy and the rivalry at home in the practice pen kicks them both on!)

And he said to say a special thank you to their awesome travelling buddies the Montgomery family, and a big thank you to Hoody and family for pushing stock and to Ryan Adam, the ‘hype man’ for getting him up for the job on each run and ride.

It’s also important to note that this now two time champion was instrumental in establishing the awarding of a Junior All-Around Champion Cowboy award..

In 2019 he approached then then Secretary of the NZRCA, our beloved Didee Bradshaw and asked that question.

‘’Why don’t we have a Junior All-Around Champion?’’

Clayton and Didee drafted a remit, Clayton presented it to the Board (scarier than a bull ride!) and it was passed.

Broc Maki was our first Junior All-Around Junior Champion in 2019-2020 and Te Reiwhati Eric Tiakiwai was our second 2020-2021 then Zoe Johnston collected top honours in 2022-2023 at Outram.

Then in 2023-2024 Claton won his first All-Around Junior Cowboy Champion title.

In 2024 – 2025 Angus Smith was unstoppable and he won the Junior All-Around Champion Cowboy title.

This year Clayton, a thirteen year old cowboy on his homebred incredible mare ‘Miss Kitty’ have been a force to be reckoned with.
They have claimed their second NZRCA All-Around title in emphathic terms.

Tomorrow Clayton turns 14 years old.
Wonder what he might do when he grows up !!

We think 'Cowboy'!
He's sure got the basics in place and there's no doubt he can grow from there !

That’s scary for the competition in the Junior ranks because he’ll only get bigger, faster, stronger!!

Congratulations cowboy, what a sea*on!
Well get some photos up of your incredible performances throughout the year but for now we just celebrate your second NZRCA All-Around NZRCA Junior Champion Cowboy title.

First time ever a Junior has won this most prestigious title.
Extra carrots (or whatever she loves!) for ‘Miss Kitty’, what a team you two are!

Congratulations to all the Rookie Champions this year!! Time to celebrate your success 🙌

𝗪𝗛𝗢'𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗨𝗡!!
It's hard to tell if it's Tilly Taylor and 'Tonto' or if it's her dad, bullfighter Glenn Taylor who is having the best time but it sure was cute to watch them around the drums in the local barrel race proudly sponsored by The Grocer.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗧!
The Advance Agriculture Ltd Ladies Breakaway Roping contest was hotly contested and it’s easily one of NZ’s Rodeo’s fastest growing and most exciting events as many of our amazing cowgirls add it to their Barrel Racing skills and Team Roping participation as either header or heeler as they try to chase down their NZRCA All-Around Champion Cowgirl title aspirations, the most prestigious title that was only added as a national title just two years ago.

And hasn’t it made the competition hot!!

We’re starting to get down to the pointy end of the sea*on, the All-Around title is led by Fairlie cowgirl Kate Hughes who has been incredible in the Barrel Racing contest this sea*on with her fabulous mare ‘Sister’ but importantly they gained that ‘second event’ run to put her in contention on her hubby John’s heeling horse, the awesome mare ‘Shenley’s Annie’ in the Breakaway Roping contest at Millers Flat Rodeo NZ on Boxing Day.

And second placed in the All-Around contest is Brooke Atkinson, another Barrel Race specialist who has also added that important ‘second event’ to be in contention for All-Round Cowgirl through the Breakaway Roping event adding it to her long list of Barrel Race titles at the Wairoa Rodeo where they a*o won the Barrel Race contest!

At Mataura, it was Omakau cowgirl Sky Sanders and ‘Cappi’ who claimed first place in 2.86 secs followed by Alexandra cowgirl Amelia Knowles and ‘Koda’ with a 2.975 sec run with Matamata based cowgirl Pyper Sarginson and ‘Zsiska’ ~who placed third with 3.32 secs beside their names.

Cromwell cowgirl Sophie Smith and 'Sid' completed the podium with a time of 3.76 secs.

As to the Breakaway Roping standings, Sky Sanders sits at the top a little over $360 ahead of Sophie Smith then $532 and change back to third placed Queenstown cowgirl Zoe Johnston and ‘Jagger’ it’s another $612 back to fourth placed Te Awamutu cowgirl Lylah Wood.

Looks like a big gap but we have so many cowgirls throwing a loop and there is serious, serious money that will not only define the Breakaway Roping title, it is highly likely to play a defining role in who our All-Around Champion Cowgirl of New Zealand will be for this sea*on.

Can’t wait to watch both these title contests unfold!

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧!
Right now, Oamaru cowboy Elih Long sits back in 21st place in the 2nd Divi Bull standings, some $713 plus change behind leader Sam Franklyn.

But this cowboy just banked $190 for his 64pt winning ride at Matura in the Aritzo Leigh Jackson Real Estate sponsored 2nd Divi Bull Ride and there are still 7 rodeos for this cowboy to own the NZRCA Rookie cowboy buckle. Go get it cowboy, it can be done!

And what a bull pen they faced from the D & J Bucking Bulls, Elih made the only qualified ride, great effort cowboy, they were tough bulls!

And as Hanmer Springs cowboy Fred McRae will tell you, better to be on the back of your bull and not in front of him!

And a big thank to the Farmbuild Bull Fighting team for keeping our cowboys, especially George Menzies safe.

𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡?
16yo Te Awamutu Barrel Racer Riley Wood and ‘Boston’ broke into the Open ranks at the Mid Northern Rodeo Assn earlier in the sea*on and at this stage are still searching for their first win in the open pen but are getting closer and closer to matching the fastest most experienced cowgirls in their event.

At Wairoa Rodeo in the weekend, they were less than half-a-second out of the placings.

But they still lead the 2nd Division Barrel Race standings with second placed Bianca Haugh also facing the challenge of matching the speedsters after breaking open at Canterbury Rodeo placing 2nd on ‘Cisco’ in the 2nd Divi then then immediately placed third in the open!, but it’s a tough task.

Third placed Lylah Wood and ‘Dice’ sit $1909 behind first place, still possible to hunt them down competing in 2nd Divi and Kiera O’Neill and Jess McKerchar are in possible range too.
They’ll need to ride hard and win, but still possible.

For our 2nd Divi cowgirls there’s 6 full points rodeo events and the 2nd Divi Kakahi rodeo to go before we know who our 2nd Divi and Junior champions are at the conclusion of the Urenui Rodeo on the 7th March.

And Riley and Bianca are our two leading contenders for Rookie All-Round Champion cowgirl of New Zealand and they’re the two top cowgirls separated by just $78.27 cents.

We are in for some of the most competitive rodeo action you will ever see.

All the best to all our cowgirl contestants in their events.

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗘?
Fairlie cowgirl Kate Hughes came into Mataura leading the All-Round Champion Cowgirl of New Zealand and was also at the top of the leaderboard with ‘Sister in the Barrel Race standings, the pair already have four title wins (two split) for the sea*on. Her third placing in the Breakaway contest at Miller’s Flat on Boxing Day on hubby John’s ‘Shenley Annie’ put her in the All-Round title hunt and she backed it up with a win on the mare at Canterbury in the 2nd Division Breakaway contest.

Her closest rival is in the All-Round Cowgirl standings is another Barrel Race ace in Brooke Atkinson who has also won 4 titles so far, the latest at Wairoa on the weekend and when she added a Breakaway Roping placing on the same day on board ‘Tango’ she slotted straight into second in the All-Round race but is $2630 plus change behind the leader with just six full points rodeos plus the NFR round and aggregate money to determine who will be our third All-Round Champion Cowgirl of New Zealand.

There are at least three others who can win based on numbers but they need Breakaway / Team Roping and Barrel Race results to catch the leader and for Kate and ‘Sister’ not continue their incredible form. A look at forward rodeo entries Kate isn’t roping so the way for the others to catch her is definitely going to be multiple wins or high places in tas many events as they can to get it done!

And in ominous signs, at Mataura in the weekend in the Herberts transport LTD sponsored Barrel Race contest, Kate and ‘Sister’ added title number five for the sea*on chasing down a 15.952 run from 7-time NZRCA Barrel Race champion Rhondine Long and ‘Roc’ who were nineteenth out in a field of 27 nominations then Charlotte Montgomery and ‘Swift’ put themselves into then second place with a 16.01 sec running one before Kate and ‘Sister’’ who once again changed up the leader board when the times stopped showing a 15.874 time, their third fastest time of the sea*on.

Others have run faster, Justine Gibson and ‘Cash’ have been the quickest time this sea*on with a 15.570 run to win at ‘Methven’ but Kate and ‘Sister’, as they have travelled up and down the country have been consistently in the mix.

All eyes on the Lawrence Rodeo Club this weekend where the All-Round and Barrel Race standings leaders will all be running. Exciting weeks ahead for our cowgirl contestants and rodeo fans as we watch the standings closely.

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

We had some great entries in the colouring in comp.
We are looking for a few unclaimed prizes Jayla 10, Gigi Adam 2 and Maisie Fear Shallard. If you know these kids please get in touch

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