Southern Cape of Origin captain Braydon Wellby bettered Top Smoke with an 84-point ride to lead the open bull ride on Friday night. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
The committee wanted to put on a celebration of rodeo to remember and they did not disappoint when more than an estimated 6,000 people from across Cape York and beyond attended the 20th Weipa Rodeo on 22-23 August.
There were plenty of thrills and spills across the two days of rodeo action, with Southern claiming the coveted Cape of Origin honours and the bumper $13,000 prize purse that came with victory.
Southern skipper Braydon Wellby, who also claimed the $5,000 open bull ride with an 84-point effort on night one of the rodeo, said he was proud of how his team performed in front of the big crowd on Saturday.
“We had a hell of a team this year, and everyone put 110 per cent into it,” he said.
“It was great to put on a good show for the crowd that was here; they were roaring to support us.”
After the winners left the stage with their prizemoney and buckles, a special presentation was held to acknowledge the efforts of long-term committee members Steve Fairbrother and David “Block” Rutherford, who have hung up their spurs following the conclusion of an overwhelmingly successful milestone edition of the rodeo.
Long-serving committee members David “Block” Rutherford and Steve Fairbrother are hanging up their spurs after this year’s rodeo and were on Saturday night presented with mementos for their unyielding service to the Weipa Rodeo Association. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
2025 Weipa Rodeo Cape of Origin teams
Southern
Captain: Braydon Wellby; pro rider: Ky Borghero; open bull rider: Jake Simpson; novice bull rider: Trevor Callope; saddlebronc rider: Raymond Brown; barrel racer: Jasmine Scikluna; ladies bullock rider: Tayla Cardelli; mini bull rider: Joel Jaszczyszyn
Central
Captain: Zane Hall; pro rider: Dallon Finch; open bull rider: Alan Gilbo; novice bull rider: Loncey Woibo; saddlebronc rider: Craig Gibson; barrel racer: Tegan Wallace; ladies bullock rider: Shashmin Pratt; mini bull rider: Reon Barber
Northern
Captain: Eli Hunter; pro rider: Bryn Francis; open bull rider: Darren George; novice bull rider: Matty Prychidczuk; saddlebronc rider: Clayton Hudson; barrel racer: Mylie Beacham; ladies bullock rider: Georgia Kirk; mini bull rider: Jaysek Callope
2025 Weipa Rodeo results
Open bull ride
1: Braydon Wellby 84 points; 2: Bryn Francis 83 points; 3: Eli Hunter and Darren George 82 points
Novice bull ride
1: Alan Gilbo 79 points; 2: Matty Prychidczuk 74 points; 3: Trevor Callope and Jack Jepson 70 points
Mini bull ride
1: Joel Jaszczyszyn 81 points; 2: Levi O’Donohue 77 points; 3: Hunter Slingo 73 points
Open bullock ride
1: Shane Dyer and Jarvis Budby 75 points; 3: Alan Gilbo and Jared Borghero 71 points
Junior bull ride
1: Latrell Woibo and Shane Dyer 76 points; 3: Jack Jepson 74 points
Junior steer ride
1: Joel Jaszczyszyn 60 points; 2: Finlay Nadredre 55 points
Saddle bronc
1: Raymond Brown
Novice barrel race
1: Tegan Wallace 15.86s; 2: Jasmine Scikluna 16.32s; 3: Tegan Wallace 17.29s
Junior barrel race
1: Summer van Pelt 20.92s; Dakota Jackson 33.97s
Ringers Ironman Challenge
1: Tegan Wallace and Dale Sommer 47s; 2: Mylie Becham and Josh Fitzgerald 57s; 3: Rylee Wellby and Clayton Slade 57.88s
The bushman’s buckjump provided plenty of thrills on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
