The Outram Rodeo Club may have taken a bath financially by holding a rodeo to help another club hit by flooding but they did it ‘‘for the sake of the sport’’.
Outram Rodeo spokesman Fred Doherty said about 1500 people attended the Outram Rodeo Club event at the grounds on his 90ha sheep and beef farm on Waitangi Day.
‘‘We were pretty happy with the crowd we got.’’
Heavy rain two days before had put the annual event in doubt.
‘‘It was touch-and-go - we didn’t know if we’d be running so we were stoked to get the event done and it went like clockwork, it was very pleasing.’’
Flooding across the South resulted in the club hosting a second rodeo on Saturday.
The second event was being held because the Mataura club was forced to postpone its annual event at its own grounds due to flood damage.
Running the second event cost the Outram Rodeo Club ‘‘several thousands of dollars’’.
‘‘We are a strong club and fortunate with manpower and have some reserves financially.’’
About 100 people attended the second event.
‘‘We didn’t expect a crowd, the club just put it on for the sake of the sport.’’
SHAWN.MCAVINUE @thestar.co.nz