NORTHERN RIVERS GOES HI TECH
It was The Northern Rivers Cutting Club's turn this week to try to squeeze a large number entries into a small amount of time. With the days getting shorter club president Bill Cox was caught a tad off guard with the last herd finishing under lights. There were a total of 150 runs pushed through including twenty pre works horses in the morning, with the first event starting around 7.30.
This show was the first time the club had the opportunity to show off all its wizardry gadgetry. The new digital time clock was on display for all to see, the digital video system operated by yours truly once again ran smoothly and gave the riders the opportunity to buy dvd copies of their runs, and last but not least the clubs mechanical cow was set up for anyone wanting to give their horse a quick tune up.
Dominic Williams was the show judge with club committee members Bill Cox and Julie Wadsworth chipping in. There were a lot of good performers throughout the show including Stefan Weilebinski and his mare Skipa Spin getting a First on Sunday and a Second on Saturday in the Snaffle Bit event. Stefan had thoughts of competing his versatile mare in some upcoming reining events but has now decided to put her on “maternity leave”. Skipa Spin is in foal to Stefan's champion reining stallion Poco Blue Moon. Rachel Procida and her latest acquisition Smokin Henry are getting along very Nicely, they won the Rookies on Saturday, were second in the Sunday Rookies events behind Mark Heath and Duraspin, and scored a 3rd place in the Saturday $3500 Non Pro.
At one point of the show not only did the score 73 look like being the highest score of the show but it looked like it was going to be shared with a number of competitors. Hamish Lee Warner riding Playboy Heffner in Saturdays $3500 Non Pro, Richard Prew and Futurity Champion Gidgee Coals in Saturdays $10,000 Novice, Christa Moore and Lena Bell in the Novice Non Pro, Bob Guest riding Tramps Destiny in the Open Non Pro on Saturday and the Novice Non Pro on Sunday, Stefan Weilebinski and Skipa Spin in Sundays Snaffle Bit, Neil Flynn riding Blue Boon in Sundays Novice Non Pro all scored a 73. But then along came Richard Prew and Gidgee Coals in Sundays Open to score an impressive 74. watch video. The small number of youth competitors was once again disappointing, but very much a favorite with the crowd. Hats off to Janet Wetzler from Ezy Acre Rugs for donating her hand made Hay Bags and Boot Bags to all of the Youth competitors. Lets hope more can be done in the future to encourage the Youth back into the sport.
After being caught short on Saturday Bill Cox made sure he wasn't caught on the hop on Sunday. With some herds being combined, and the Arena Director making sure there wasn't any unnecessary hold ups, the show actually finished at a respectable time.
The cattle were good and the show was a great spectacle, it was also great to see some spectators come in who obviously weren't “horsey” people and be in awe at what these horses were doing. Outsiders who have no knowledge of the sport coming in and taking an interest can only be good for the sport. Whether all the added technology added to the atmosphere 
and success of the show is a matter of speculation, but one thing is for sure the one thing that does add to the atmosphere of a show is when it is run by a committee who work together as a team and obviously enjoy each others company (no bitchiness). That feeling is passed onto the competitors and subsequently everyone there feels welcome.
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