Braydon Wellby, far right, gave everything a go at Laura, including a stint as a protection athlete. He won five events over two days. Pictures: Peter Roy Photography
BRAYDON Wellby almost needed a security detail to leave Laura he won that much cash.
The champion bullrider, who has been a regular on the PBR tour, won just about everything he entered at his first Cape York rodeo.
“Everything except for my last bronc ride,” he said on Monday.
“It was a great weekend. I love the bush rodeos much more than the ones in the cities.
“I’d come back to Laura again, for sure.”
While some of his rivals might be glad to see the back of Wellby, the Burdekin cowboy was simply a class above.
He won the open bull ride on both Saturday and Sunday, plus the rope and tie and steer wrestling.
Saturday night’s saddle bronc also went his way, even if he can’t remember it.
“I rode time but afterwards I came off and I think I got knocked out because I can’t remember much from Saturday,” Wellby said.
“It was great to go in all those events – I even did a bit of bullfighting.”
Markayla Shephard won the Maiden Campdraft and finished second in the Ladies Barrel Race.
Wellby is the nephew of Weipa lawn bowls star Russell Wellby and has friends and family across North Queensland.
It was no surprise that he won the all-round cowboy honours after he won almost $7000 in cash.
Nicole Gava didn’t win an event but managed to be crowned the all-round cowgirl after top performances across a range of events.
Three new life members were honoured by the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft Association – Wal Vale, Kevin Jackson and Barry Shephard.
Secretary Deb Gostelow said the trio were worthy inductees.
“They’ve been long-time members and contributors,” she said.
“You can’t put on an event without the workers and these three have done more than most.”
Cape York cowboy Luke Quartermaine won the Bushman’s Saddle Bronc.
Ms Gostelow praised the big crowd for its behaviour after police said there were no major incidents over the weekend.
“I think it was another great weekend and it’s great to see so many people come to the Cape to experience a bush event,” she said.
“There are a lot of first-timers here and I think they’ll all be back next year.”
She also thanked the volunteers and committee members for their hard work, as well as the sponsors and stations who provided stock for the rodeo and campdraft.
“We couldn’t do it without them and we appreciate them,” she said.
WEEKEND RESULTS
Junior Campdraft
1st Hailey Jaszczyszyn 66pts
2nd Morghan Nash 64pts
2rd Emilie Weedon 64pts
Juvenile Campdraft
1st Corissa Evans 80pts
2nd Ricki Sivyer 23pts
3rd Rainey Quaid 22pts
Maiden Campdraft (two rounds)
1st Markayla Shephard 175pts
2nd James Trimble 168pts
3rd Robbie White Snr 165pts
Novice Campdraft (two rounds)
1st Roy Shephard 181pts
2nd Robbie White Snr 177pts
3rd Kelly Shephard 173pts
Cut-Out Shootout
1st Glen Duncombe 23.25
2nd Ryan Gunderson 23
3rd Robbie White Snr 22.45
U11 Junior Barrel Race
1st Baillie Cordingley 18.85
2nd Jenna Holden 21.98
3rd Alana Roy 23.03
U14 Junior Barrel Race
1st Taylor Furber 16.98
2nd Demi Daddona 18.09
3rd Leila Simpson 18.23
Juvenile Barrel Race
1st Ricki Sivyer 16.97
2nd Carley Shephard 17.09
2nd Jemma Swift 17.09
Novice Barrel Race
1st Shayla Jerome 16.89
2nd Shayla Jerome 16.90
3rd Donna Furber 16.92
Ladies Barrel Race
1st Kelly Shephard 16.22
2nd Markayla Shephard 16.49
3rd Nicole Gava 16.55
Breakaway Roping
1st Marnie Lefoe 5.78
Rope and Tie
1st Braydon Wellby 13.05
2nd Lee Liaver 13.97
3rd Daley Tilse 22.78
Junior Steer Ride
1st Tyson Ford 52pts
Open Bull Ride (Saturday)
1st Braydon Wellby 83pts
Open Bull Ride (Sunday)
1st Braydon Wellby 79pts
Novice Bull Ride (Saturday)
1st Tristan Pye 72pts
Novice Bull Ride (Sunday)
1st Shaquille Ford 68pts
Mini Bulls (Saturday)
1st Caleb Sheahan 68pts
2nd Josh Snell 63pts
3rd Jyren Kyle 62pts
Mini Bulls (Sunday)
1st Caleb Sheahan 58pts
2nd Josh Snell 53pts
Bullock Ride
1st Travis Koolatah 61pts
2nd Scott Bowen 50pts
3rd Jefferson Woibo 42pts
Saddle Bronc
1st Braydon Wellby 62pts
Bushman’s Saddle Bronc
1st Luke Quartermaine 68pts
2nd Reno Bowen 67pts
3rd Brandon Shephard 64pts
Junior Bull Ride
1st Brayden Spina 64pts
Steer Undecorating
1st Shanice Petrie 3.23
2nd Lorraine Wellby 3.54
3rd Roslyn Terry 3.88
Steer Wrestling
1st Braydon Wellby 5.42
2nd Lee Liaer 20.45
3rd Daley Tilse 21.76
Junior Steer Ride
1st Kaileb Kyle 55pts
2nd Ryan Jaszczyszyn 49pts
3rd Josh Snell 45pts
Juvenile Steer Ride
1st Shane Dyer 59pts
2nd Tristan Pye 51pts
3rd Jake Simpson 46pts
* When there missing placings, only one or two riders managed to record an official score.
