James Vereker - Gallery Blog

Tuesday 1 May 2018

The Man from Snowy River - Stockman's Challenge - 2018

True grit is a key factor in champion horseman, John Mitchell of Tooma, NSW earning his third title in-a-row at Australia's most prestigious stockman’s challenge The Man from Snowy River on April 8 at Corryong, Vic. The other factor is riding a horse with plenty of try and 'Halls Chickenman', an Australian Stock Horse stallion is proving a top performer - like 'Knights Top That' for Scott Bandy and in recent years - 'Edenhope Smokey' for Bronson Macklinshaw.

John Mitchell in Bareback Obstacle

The Brumby Catch final was all about the chase and the bronco colts mostly had too much run for the stock horses. It took about a minute-and-a-half before they came to heel and the chance for a catch - until the two-minute limit - with only Lincoln Adams and Michael Green successful. This was the lowest aggregate in 10 years!

The finals were the swansong for popular local, Adam Wheeler of Cudgewa, Vic. - after nine Top-Ten appearances. However, try as he might in the Brumby Catch, the halter just wouldn't fit-up for a legal catch in the unforgiving two minutes.

The incomparable, Emma O'Shea of Cootamundra, NSW showed everyone just how a Brumby Catch should be done. Aboard, 'Hilite Dads Acres', on a straight-away run, she secured a head catch and so easily, secured her fifth ladies' title at Corryong.

New finalists, Lance Anderson of Deman,Vic.campaigned Edenhope Smokey and Kieran Davidson of Young, NSW rode 'Edenvale Orion' - earning valuable experience. Ladies' finalists, Ellen Forge of Oxley, Vic. is gaining confidence with each challenge and Kelsie Lupson of Beechworth, Vic. has graduated from junior ranks. Travis Bandy of Tooma, NSW won the junior title on 'Eskdale West Smart Con'.

Larne Draught Horse Team

Bush Festival
The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival continues to grow with 28,000 pre-sold tickets as Grey Nomads increasingly roll-up camping for miles around and creating 'RV City' at Corryong. Guy McLean - liberty horse trainer, poet and Australian Stock Horse ambassador - was a main drawcard - being based in the USA. He performed Banjo's historic poem at the Re-enactment, provided Liberty Shows in the Rodeo Arena and drew a full-house for Poetry Recitations in the Entertainment Marquee. Country music icons, Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole shared the Main Stage in 2018.

Bush Festival dates are 4-7 April in 2019.

Action Photographs

See The Man from Snowy River Challenge - Event Photo Galleries - online*:-
VIEW as a SLIDE SHOW or email PHOTO LINKS to family or friends.

DAY 1 Events / X-Country http://www.horsephotographics.com.au/view/661093

DAY 2 Preliminary Events http://www.horsephotographics.com.au/view/661092

DAY 3 Challenge Finals http://www.horsephotographics.com.au/view/661091
*Google Chrome is the preferred browser www.horsephotographics.com.au

Special Subscriber Offer
10% discount on Photo Order checkout until May13 available on all Event Photo Galleries 2009-2018. Events include the leading stockman's challenges such as The Man from Snowy River, The King of the Ranges, Snowy Mountains Muster and Legend of the Lower Lakes plus Heavy Horses and Mountain Cattleman's Get-Togethers, Adventure Horse Rides, Tom Quilty and Outback Cattle Drives etc.

FREE Postage & Handling on Photographic PRINT and DIGITAL Orders

Thursday 5 November 2015

The Battle on the 'Bidgee - Stockman's Challenge - 2015

The winning streak of champion horseman, Bronson Macklinshaw - victor in the last three stockman’s challenges - came to an end after a close finals contest with David Mitchell. He took the honours by a mere three points to claim another major title: The Battle on the 'Bidgee Stockman's Challenge on October 11 at Gundagai, NSW.

An expert in the Brumby Catch, Mitchell had the brumby haltered and under control in less than a minute. Finally, the respected horseman had some luck in the Stock Saddle Buckjump to make time and secure a new challenge victory.


David Mitchell and Stoneage Jay in the Brumby Catch at Gundagai.

Emma O'Shea led the challenge field on points and won the women's championship as the defending titleholder from Penny MacIntosh - after crushing her opposition in the finals of a Time Trial and Brumby Catch. Junior, Dylan Weir excelled in the Time Trial and Steer Ride finals to win his section from Warwick Pearsall and Kelsie Lupson.

See all The Battle on the 'Bidgee 2015 event photo albums including the Stripling's Challenge at www.horsephotographics.com.au

Special Offer
Get 10% discount on Photo Orders until December 10 available on all event albums 2009-2015.

© 2015 James Vereker. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday 5 July 2015

Stockman's Challenge reports in July 2015 Australian Horseman

Read the 2015 special reports by James Vereker on The Man From Snowy River and The King of the Ranges challenges in the current July-August issue of Australian Horseman magazine. See how Bronson Macklinshaw and Emma O'Shea won the big prizes and who the best performers were in these iconic challenges featuring the finalists' action photographs.

All event photos are available at www.horsephotographics.com.au

Dave Rixon on 'Cajun Acres' won the Masters at The King of the Ranges 2015.

Sunday 21 June 2015

Laughing Horse Offer!

'Crack it' like The Laughing Horse and get a discount on Photo Orders until June 30 available on all event albums 2009-2015. Events include Heavy Horses, Mountain Cattleman's Get-Togethers and the leading stockman's challenges such as The Man from Snowy River, The King of the Ranges, Snowy Mountains Muster and Legend of the Lower Lakes. www.horsephotographics.com.au

Sunday 31 May 2015

The New Queen at The King of the Ranges in 2015

The King of the Ranges Stockman's Challenge at Murrurundi, NSW has seen a number of title holders in both the open and women's categories over the years but nobody has been more successful than Christy Connor, a horse breaker and trainer of Taralga, NSW. She holds a record of five titles and also has the unique distinction of being 'the first woman to compete in the finals of the open challenge'.

This year, she was the defending champion and riding a strong new colt 'Bo Jangles' but being a four year-old, his best performances are ahead of him. At the conclusion of the preliminary events, Ms Connor found herself some seventy points in arrears of last year's runner-up, Emma O'Shea riding her nine year-old stallion 'Hilite Dads Acres' and in front of promising rider, Sally Stockwell.

In the final of the Brumby Catch, both stockwomen executed good hand catches of strong brumby broncos. They demonstrated control of the brumby on the halter lead within the three and a half minute limit and impressed the judges to share the honours on points. Ms O'Shea had maintained her aggregate advantage over Christy Connor to become the new "King of the Ranges Ladies Champion" for 2015.

This is the third stockman's challenge title win in-a-row for Emma O'Shea, after victories in "The Battle on the 'Bidgee" in 2014 at Gundagai and in "The Man from Snowy River" earlier this year at Corryong, Vic.. Her success mirrors that of the Open Champion, Bronson Macklinshaw, who claimed the same order of titles.

"I enjoy both the brumby catch and stock handling parts of the competition and that is where I'm probably strongest in my skills," she says.

Emma O'Shea has shown a command of all-round horsemanship throughout these challenges and complete trust in her Australian Stock Horse stallion, Hilite Dads Acres, whom she has owned since it was ten months old. Her willingness to get physical in the Brumby Catch and bulwark the brumby on the shoulder for a hand catch and then work it around, reducing circles to a standstill, is evidence of her determination, skills and ultimate trust in her horse. It also helps to be an experienced horse breaker and contract musterer used to Droughtmaster cattle!

See more photos of Emma O'Shea and Christy Connor with all competitors in The King of the Ranges 2015 and The Man from Snowy River 2015 stockman's challenges in event photo albums at www.horsephotographics.com.au

Sunday 24 May 2015

The King of the Ranges - Rookie Ringer - 2015

Aboriginal stockman, Gerald Aplin Jnr is employed at Lawn Hill station on the Gulf of Carpentaria, NT and joined The King of the Ranges stockman's challenge field for the first time at Murrurundi, NSW. The 20 year-old ringer, who aspires to be a Head Stockman, was sponsored by the organising committee to undertake a crash-course in relevant horsemanship disciplines to compete, under the guidance of master horseman, Shane Easey.

It was a steep learning curve for this member of the Waanyi tribe. “We just get on a horse and go at it,” he says. Support from many people ensured that he was able to complete the challenge successfully. “I got a lot of knowledge on cattle but mostly on horses,” Gerald says.

A wildcard draw for entry into the finals saw Aplin win it and compete at the highest level amongst the Top-Ten. He made a determined chase in the Brumby Catch making several attempts with the halter and rode well in the Buckjump, cracking his stockwhip to survive his baptism of fire.

The King of the Ranges president Ray Hynes praised the young stockman, after hosting his station boss Craig Young, business manager Paul McGuiness and indigenous board member Peter Cameron of the Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Co. over the weekend. The sponsorship initiative is liable to continue next year for eligible candidates to compete in the challenge that is held over the first weekend in May. “The committee are hoping to grow the partnership,” Mr Hynes says.

See more photos of Gerald Aplin Jnr in The King of the Ranges 2015 challenge in event photo albums at www.horsephotographics.com.au

Sunday 17 May 2015

The King of the Ranges - Stockman's Challenge - 2015

Bronson Macklinshaw, the Armidale horse breaker and trainer has taken all before him in the last three stockman’s challenges to earn an exceptional third championship in-a-row by claiming The King of the Ranges Stockman's Challenge on May 3 at Murrurundi, NSW.

Always keen to entertain the crowd as a finalist in past challenges, the larrikin showman, equipped with formidable horsemanship skills, has shown a greater sense of purpose in competitions over the past year.

“You don’t have to have your horse super-fit but you have got to have confidence and trust,” he says, referring to his six year-old stock horse, 'Edenhope Smokey'.

The talented horseman, excelled in both the Brumby Catch and Buckjump finals to emerge as the winner, taking the cash and prizes, doffing his hat and flashing his ‘film star’ smile. Former champions and brothers, John Mitchell and dual title-holder, David Mitchell, were his nearest rivals.