By Jeremy Sollars
Warwick’s Lee Robson is hoping to rope his way to a win when he heads to the Mitsubishi Big Show Team Roping Championships in Tamworth next week.
Billed as the richest team roping event in the Southern Hemisphere, the competition attracts competitors from across the country and overseas – and a host of other Warwick competitors are also making the trip.
The Big Show is held at Tamworth’s AELEC – Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre – and Lee is hoping to better his efforts at the Championships over the past couple of years.
But Lee – whose day job is being a diesel mechanic with the Southern Downs Regional Council – is also keen to thank his band of loyal supporters, including his wife Simone and their children and his dad John and brother Jai, who have generously dug deep to financially support Lee’s quest.
“I’ve had a lot of support from both of them and from business people in town including Brett Benz, Ray Bunch and Brendan Ryan – they’ve all been fantastic,” Lee told the Free Times.
“They haven’t actually watched me swing a rope, so to have the support is terrific – I just want to say thank you to them for helping to allow me to pursue what I love so much.
“I’ve also got a syndicate of four mates from work at the council who have helped me out tremendously as well.”
Lee will be aboard his chosen 10-year-old gelding ‘Slippery’ at the Big Show – where competition takes place in a series of rotations between Tuesday and Friday next week for 8’s, 11’s and Open Classes, with Lee competing in the 8’s.
The finals will be held on the Saturday with competitors whittled down based on their times and the overall winner will score a brand new Mitsubishi Triton ute and $11,000 in cash, with the cash going to their sponsors.
Other events include ladies’ breakaway roping and kids’ dummy roping.
Lee will partner up at the Big Show with fellow Warwick ropers Adam Tozer, Steve Hannon and Sue Parker and Roma-based cowboy Dunhill Abriol.
Other well-known local competitors heading to Tamworth include Johnny Osborne Jnr, Michael Maher and father and son team Jeff and Coby Miller.
Lee says he “grew up with a rope in my hand”.
“I’ve been off and on with roping over the last 10 years between work and family – but before that I used to do roughstock,” he said.
“The last couple of years at the Big Show have been a bit hit and miss for me – this time I feel like I’ve prepared well, I’ve been working hard on it for the past three months, so hopefully it’s third time lucky.”
See the Free Times online for results next week …
