Emma Peters has spent her life travelling around NSW competing in rodeos, but up until Saturday she had never jumped off her horse as champion at the Queanbeyan Rodeo.
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This made the horsewoman’s victory as the John Mills all-round champion that much sweeter.
Growing up just outside of Goulburn, the Queanbeyan Rodeo, widely regarded as one of the biggest and richest in the state, had always been a target event for the 33 year old.
Peters set up the win by taking out the ladies breakaway, an event on horseback where the rider is timed catching a calf by looping a rope around it.
She then placed second in the barrel racing, taking home more than $2000 in prize money and the John Mills memorial saddle.
“I had placed there previously but it's the first time I had actually won,” Peters said.
"They had a big crowd, all the grandstands were full so I think the organisers would have been happy.”
The classic rodeo clowns entertained the crowd and protected the riders while a number of cameras on the ground and in a drone provided modern live action replays on the big screen.
Daredevils of a different kind, sky divers, arrived in style during the intermission.
Queanbeyan Rodeo Committee president Mark Mills is yet to finalise crowd numbers but he said it was the most he had ever seen attend.
"It's always stressful because of the weather, everything hinges on the weather," he said.
Mr Mills couldn't have asked for better conditions, with the sky so clear and dry water was continually laid in the rodeo ring to temper the dust.
The event runs on the generosity of volunteers and sponsors, with all the profits going towards a nominated charity.
This year the money was handed over to the mental health organisation, R U OK? - a fitting tip of the cap to support an issue that plagues so many rural and regional communities. And more simply, the help is appreciated to put on such a big event.
"Without the sponsors and the volunteers the rodeo wouldn't be running, it's as simple as that," Mr Mills said. "The volunteers are indispensable."