The 21 st Annual Oodnadatta Bronco Branding was held on Saturday, July 16 th, following the ABC Country Hour 60 th Birthday Celebrations which were held on Friday, July 15 th

Oodnadatta’s entry for the ABC Country Hour competition, submitted by Lynnie Plate (Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta) and Andrew and Donnagh Clarke (Allandale Station, Oodnadatta Track) was judged the best for South Australia, and so the ABC Roadshow came to town!

Click here to see the winning ABC Radio entry.

Broadcasting began early on Friday morning and locals and visitors alike filled the new pavilion to watch how the broadcast happened, and also see a number of locals being interviewed.

After the Country Hour, a presentation was made to Lynnie, Andrew and Donnagh from the Country Hour team, and a chocolate birthday cake made by Donnagh Clarke was cut and shared among the 500 plus crowd. Click here to view SA Country Hour, Oodnadatta Style.
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After the birthday lunch, the afternoon’s entertainment consisted of a Campdraft for juniors and seniors. The campdraft cattle were supplied by Allandale & Macumba Station. The selection of Poll Hereford & Santa cattle kept outside scores to a minimum for those lucky enough to get out of the camp.

It was nice to see the juniors competing and all managed an outside score. The 'Greatbatch Agencies' Junior Campdraft was won by Ben Crozier (Anna Creek Station, Oodnadatta Track SA). The 'Explore the Outback Camel Safaris' Juvenile Campdraft was won by Todd Williams (Mt. Barry Station, Oodnadatta SA). The 'Wanneroo Angus' Senior Campdraft was won by Malcolm Mitchell (Uloorina Station, Marree SA).
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Friday night everyone gathered under the stars in the main street of Oodnadatta to be entertained by Felicity Urquhart and Mark Seymour (formerly Hunters & Collectors) in concert, compered by South Australian ABC personality & 891 Evening radio presenter, Peter Goers.

Saturday saw the Bronco Branding in full swing. There were over twenty teams in the singles and just under twenty in the doubles. It was fantastic to see many familiar faces in the large crowd through out the day along with the numerous travellers who were on the road for the school holidays. Clothing exhibitors represented brands such as Stockroute, Clare , Blue Dog & BBB Country Clothing were welcomed by locals alike.

The first event was the 'Patsie Williams' Memorial Singles Bronco Branding. This event was sponsored by The Williams Cattle Company and it was wonderful to see Patsie’s family keenly competing in the event that Patsie herself loved. Patsie’s father Jimmy Nunn, together with his wife Leonie and son Peter traveled from Stonehenge Queensland to participate, and sisters Cindy Mitchell (Muloorina Station, Marree SA) and Julie Nunn (Roxby Downs) and their children also attended.
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After some very competitive times in each round, the winners with a time of 5.40.30 were the Macumba team consisting of Eddie Nunn (Catcher - Macumba Station, Oodnadatta), together with a ground crew of son Justin Nunn, Tom Curnow and Derek Rowe (Coober Pedy). Each received trophies which had been hand made by Patsie’s brother Jim Nunn Junior, Leigh Creek.

Eddie Nunn (Manager for S Kidman's Macumba Station) is undoubtly one of the best bronco branding catchers in the bush. He has won the Singles event in 2000. 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2005. No catcher in the bush can boast such a record.

Second in the Singles was the Stonehenge team with Jimmy Nunn Senior (Catcher - Sunnyside, Stone Henge QLD) along with a ground crew consisting of son Peter and son-in-law, Tony Williams (MT Barry Station, Oodnadatta) and Bill Drew (Adelaide.).

Third place went to the Schmidt Brothers Brett and Clayton Schmidt (Alice Springs), Mick Newman (Elders, Alice Springs) and Robbie Schmidt (Leigh Creek) .

The 'Lucas Supermarket - Coober Pedy' Novice Bronco Branding event was inititated by the committee to encourage the less experienced catchers in the competition. With the art of 'catching' slowly fading it was encouraging to see the number of teams nominated for this event. The winner being the Jimmy Stevenson team, 3.18.00, consisting of Jimmy Stevenson (Catcher - Marla), Bill Drew (Adelaide), Andrew Clarke (Allandale Station, Oodnadatta) & Ben Brown (Macumba Station, Oodnadatta).

Second in this event with a time of 4.26.00 was Greg Warren (Oodnadatta), Ryan Rankin (The Twins, Glendambo), Nick Williams (MT Sarah Station, Oodnadatta) & Arnold Warren (Macumba Station, Oodnadatta)

Eddie Nunn’s Macumba team were also successful in the 'T&R Pastoral, Australian Satellite Services, Mono Pumps Victoria' Doubles Bronco Branding competition with a time of 3.54.65. With the inclusion of Gordon Warren, complete with ankle in plaster, as the second catcher.

Second in the Doubles was the Trackers team, 4.21.80, consisting of Shane Oldfield (Clayton Station, Birdsville Track) Lachie Scammell (Mt Lyndhurst, Strezleki Track), Peter Litchfield (Mundowdna Station, Marree), Matthew Clarke (Pine Grove, Carrieton) and Adam Litchfield (Wilpoorina Station, Marree).

Third in the Doubles team was the Fennell Family, 4.42.15, Allan Fennel (Catcher) with sons Michael, Mathew, Mark & Jake (Lambina Station, Marla).

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T&R Pastoral, Australian Satellite Services, Mono Pumps Victoria' Doubles Bronco Branding Place Getters

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The 'Teys Brothers' Junior Calf Scruffing (13 Years & Under) was won by Ben Crozier (Anna Creek Station, William Creek), Emily Sims & Tayla Sims (Peake Station, Oodnadatta Track). This event required the team of 3 to 'scruff' (tackle) 2 calves to the ground within 80 seconds. All the children worked hard at pulling their calves down to the ground. Equal second was shared between Henry Clarke (Allandale Station, Oodnadatta), Chloe Nunn (Macumba Station, Oodnadatta), William Clarke (Allandale Station, Oodnadatta) along with Shawnee Fennel, Billy Fennell & Jake Fennell (Lambina Station, Marla).

Event 6, 'Kerin Landmark Rural' Senior Calf Scruffing had their work cutout when faced with a yard full of weaners with an average weight of 220kg to scruff in the 80 second time frame! The winning team consisting of Patrick & Todd Williams MT Barry Station, Oodnadatta) along with Bill Drew (Adelaide) worked hard to bring their calves down. Second was Matt Williams Team & in Third Place was Greg Warrens Team .

'Western Mining Company' kindly sponsored the Steer Ride event with the steers supplied by Macumba Station proved too good for most of the budding steer riders, Clayton Schmidt (Alice Springs) scooped the pool of prizes for this event.

Presentations were made early in the evening to make way for the delicious meal of roast beef, pork and lamb carefully prepared on the spit accompanied by an array of salads, hot potatoes and warm dinner rolls!

Local pastoralist,'bush' commentator & race caller, Andrew Clarke, auctioned a variety of items including generators, battery power packs, dozens of South Australian - West Coast oysters and even a fully signed 'Collingwood' football guernsy - which was passed in at $200.

The evening entertainment was once again supplied by the BC Boys (Port Augusta.). The bands lively repotaire of music entertained all ages into the early hours of Sunday morning with many of the committee being the last standing!

The committee greatly acknowledges generous donations from all sponsors including

BULLS COOBER PEDY
ELANCO ANIMAL HEALTH
MUD HUT MOTEL
OUTBACK AGENCIES
PT AUGUSTA VETERINARY SERVICE
BLUE DOG JEANS HAMLEY BRIDGE
LAURA WATERSYSTEMS
CREATENS DISTRIBUTORS
SMULDERS CONTRACTING
PINK ROADHOUSE
NRG FLINDERS
WEICH&SON TRANSPORT
BUSH LOGISTICS
COOBER PEDY UNDERGROUND POTTERY
COOBER PEDY MINERS STORE
TRANSCONTINENTAL HOTEL
AMJ PRODUCE
AAA PARTS & ACCESSORIES
KELLY TOYOTA
OODNADATTA STORE
DESERT CAVE UNDERGROUND MOTEL
BLACKMORE POWER AND WATER
POLYPIPE INDUSTRIES
THE WATERSHED
ELDERS LIMITED

Thank you to all who made the journey Way OutBack to Oodnadatta!