Fifteen-year-old Josh Snell catches up with sponsor and Mount Carbine publican Mitch Newman ahead of the rising star tackling the junior steer ride at the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft on 30 June. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
He may have only geared up for his first junior steer ride on Sunday, but 15-year-old Josh Snell is in no doubt where his long-term future in the rough and tumble sport of rodeo lays.
“I want to make it to America and get over there for those events and the big money,” he told Cape York Weekly ahead of the 2024 Laura Rodeo and Campdraft.
After getting into the sport two years ago, Snell has gone from strength to strength and competed in the 14-18 years steer ride and junior bull ride at Laura on 30 June.
He said he had found the key to success coming out of the chute was to focus on the task at hand, not the risk involved with sitting on the back of a bucking beast attempting to dislodge its unwelcome passenger.
“It gives you a bit of a shock when you first get on, but you just have to keep getting up and getting on and you’ll be right,” he said.
“You’ve got to shut it all out.”
Snell stopped in Mount Carbine on the way to Laura last week to catch up with publican Mitch Newman, who sponsors the young rider through his company Great Northern Pastoral.
Mr Newman said, as a rodeo fan and former competitor, he was thrilled to be able to support Snell as he progressed through the ranks of the sport.
“Well, I used to do it, and my son doesn’t want to do it, so I thought why not help someone else?” he explained.
“Because I still love the sport; [the sponsorship] is definitely well worth it, and it’s two years now I think we’ve been helping.”
Snell’s mother, Teegan, said the financial support made a huge difference as the family helped the young rider chase his dream.
She added she managed to avoid significant nerves to date when she saw her eldest son holding on in the arena as he fought for an eight-second ride.
“I think this year will be a bit different,” she said.
“I’ve not been too bad, but now he’s up in that next category of juniors, we’ll see.
“There’s not been any injury so far, touch wood; I think if there was, then it would be more nerve racking.”
As he prepared for the competition at the weekend, Snell said having a former bull rider like Mr Newman willing to offer sponsorship provided a confidence boost.
“It’s good he’s helping, because he’s done it, too,” he explained.
“Yeah, it helps my confidence he thinks I can do it.”
