Sport
2 April, 2025
Sibling rivalry has bronc rider chasing victory in Mount Isa
A rising saddle bronc rider wants success at the Great Northern Rodeo Series.
Luke Hanson will have one goal in mind when he hops into the chutes at Buchanan Park this Saturday – beating his little brother.
The Charters Towers cowboy, who has been living and working in Cloncurry over the past few months, said getting the wood over his sibling Kelly would be considered a success.
A buckle and a nice cheque for winning the saddle bronc would be a nice bonus.
Hanson, 25, said he’d been riding on the rodeo circuit for a few years, mostly as a weekend hobby, but started to take the sport more seriously in 2024.
He made the final of the second division bronc ride at the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo in August and tasted success at bush rodeos, including at Saxby.
“From about this time last year I went flat out every week until the end of September,” the boilermaker said.
“I do it for fun on the weekend, mostly. There’s normally a pretty good crew of fellas running around (on the circuit).”
Hanson has drawn Showtime, a bucking bronc he has crossed paths with before.
“I got on him at Saxby a couple of years ago,” he said.
“I didn’t do very well. I was pretty broken when I got on.
“But he is one of the best ones there, so I’m pretty keen to get on this Saturday.”
His brother has drawn Dirty Harry, another bronc that’s sure to produce a score if Kelly can clock eight seconds.
“It’s pretty competitive between me and him,” Hanson told North West Weekly.
“He’s just come back from Victoria doing the rodeos down there, so he’ll be hard to beat.”
The Hansons will be among more than 100 competitors who will enter Kalkadoon Arena for the Great Northern Rodeo Series event.
Many will be youngsters from the North West trying their hand at barrel racing and steer rides.
However, the grown ups will be competing for serious cash.
Mount Isa’s own Courtney Gray said she was looking forward to getting back into the arena for what was going to be a big barrel racing season.
“We’re all keeping an eye on the weather and hoping there’s no more rain, but we should be right for this Saturday. A lot of us are keen to get out there,” she said.
Great Northern Rodeo Series founder Mark Thomson said he was hoping for another good turnout after the success of the last event in October.
“We’re confident it will go ahead, especially if the road stays open between Longreach and Cloncurry,” he said.
“The rough stock is fine, they are only coming from Cloncurry, but the timed event stock is coming from Emerald, and we’ve still got roads closed between Emerald and here, which should open in time.”
The Great Northern Rodeo Series will be staged at Buchanan Park this Saturday, with tickets $20 for adults and free entry for those 17 and under.