Man Versus Beast

A record crowd filled the showgrounds to witness dozens of hardened cowboys pit their riding skill against hundreds of pounds of snorting fury at the annual Gisborne Christmas feature, the P.B. Rodeo.

Competing in the event were many top New Zealand and Australian riders who follow the rodeo circuit around the country at that time of the year.

Although our following pictures may give the impression that man was consistently bettered by beast this was not the case, some of the top riders performing almost incredible feats of balance and skill in remaining seated atop their mounts for their ten seconds of furious activity.

We noted that unseated riders adopted various techniques (involuntary, of course) in their trip to the ground and we have shown some of them on the following pages.

Riding in the main event, the Open Buckjump, Ken Hart hangs on tight as his mount rears high. This ride won him the event.

The kiddies really enjoyed it

(Winners of the Open Buckjump with Mr Wally Jonasen (president P.B.R.A.) and Mr Jack Chrisp (manager Gisborne Breweries, donors of prize). From left: Johnny Griffiths (Wanganui), 4th: Murray Thurston (Hastings), 3rd; Brian Denton (Gisborne), 2nd; Ken Hart (Hamilton), 1st; Mr Chrisp, and Mr Jonasen.

Type one: The swallow dive complete with kick-out. Australian Jim Eisehauer demonstrates with assistance from notorious horse Paleface.

Type two: The human pile-driver A. Ross Dent grimaces with pain as he is driven into the hard showgrounds earth.

Type three: The headstand, performed here by Roger O'Neill from Injun Joe.

Type four: The human pile-driver B. Dave McIntosh displays the vertical approach.

Type five: The spreadeagle as shown by Ken Hyndman.

Type six: The casual dismount. Ken Hyndman swings his leg as if to step to the ground from his high bucking horse.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 139 : January 26, 1966

Man Versus Beast