By Kyra Gillespie
Lang Lang celebrated the 75th anniversary of its famous rodeo on Easter Monday, drawing a crowd of 4000 people for a day of thrills and spills.
The annual Easter Monday event combines bull riding with food stalls, a ute show and the dog high jump, with Red Heeler Malcolm from Paynesville taking out first prize for the second consecutive year.
The day started with junior and ladies barrel races, team roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc, local steer riding and lots more, and culminated in the thrilling bull ride event.
Despite being the feature event of the day, no rider was able to stay on the bull for the fill eight seconds, meaning the $1800 prize money was left unclaimed.
“Nobody won it because no one could stay on for the full eight seconds,” secretary Cheryl Berry said.
“It would have to be one of the first years that no one has stayed on.”
The Lang Lang Rodeo had its origins at a ’Boom Day Carnival’ held at the Lang Lang Showgrounds in 1939.
To the thrill of the crowd, the carnival included a steer ride. After the success of this event, the show society talked seriously about holding a rodeo.
During the 1941 Agricultural Show another steer ride was held which was also a huge success.
With the outbreak of WW2 the show society took until 1944 to plan and hold a rodeo on Easter Monday and thus began a proud tradition.
The Annual Lang Lang Rodeo has been held on Easter Monday ever since.
In the 70s the Victorian Railways used to run a special train to Lang Lang with up to 20,000 people on board bound for the rodeo.
To celebrate the significant milestone, former riders in the rodeo gathered for a reunion on the day.
Among those was 1978 Miss Rodeo Australia winner Jenny Shean.
“They all got together and reminisced. They had a wonderful time,” Ms Berry said.
This year also marks local stalwart Alan Light’s 60th year with the rodeo.
To mark the occasion, Mr Light awarded an Encouragement Award to young rider Bradley Rodder.
“The award is to encourage young chaps to continue competing at the rodeos,” Mr Light said.
“We had a few young riders compete on the day and I hope they keep coming back.
“Everyone starts somewhere and it’s great to have a trophy to encourage them.”
Mr Light first joined the committee in 1966 and has been a member ever since.
“I enjoy every bit of it. Everyone gets along really well together; it’s like one big happy family and that’s a big part of why the event is such a success year after year.
“We had an enormous crowd around the arena and the entries were the best we’ve had in recent years.
“It was a very, very good day.”
Although the day was a success, the passing of dedicated Grounds Manager Col Leeson was sorely felt.
“Col was very much missed this year,” Ms Berry said.
“There was so much that he used to do behind the scenes. He was one of a kind and we really miss him.”
Ms Berry said the day couldn’t have happened as it did without the support of the wider community.
“Thanks to the sponsors, the many volunteers who come and help before, during and after the rodeo, the good people of Lang Lang who support us year after year and the loyal patrons who come every Easter Monday.”
