Lightning Ridge Easter Festival – Good Friday Getting Better Each Year
Easter in Lightning Ridge has been renowned for many events.
For over 30 years, it was about the goat races, which eventually ceased in 2009 due to animal welfare concerns.
Some thought Easter would never be the same, until a group of women got together with other ideas.
Event Manager of the Lightning Ridge Black Opal Bull and Bronc Ride, Simone Gibson said that many years ago a rodeo came to town at Easter, but for some reason it stopped.
“The previous Pony Club Committee tried to get the rodeo up and running again, without success,” Simone said.
“A group of seven ladies took over the Pony Club in 2014 and started fundraising.
“In 2015 we managed to raise $25,000, and we used that money to hold a rodeo at Easter, with a bull ride.
“Now we have the bull ride and two bronc rides (bareback and novice), and we have added in the Bernie Carney Chute Out. Every year we try to add another event or attraction,” she said.
This year, the rodeo committee has added the Tyler Britten DBA Novice Bull Chute Out, inspired by Tyler Britten.
Tyler has suffered from a rare bone marrow disease since he was four months old, requiring monthly blood transfusions. Tyler is now nine years old.”
“Tyler’s mum Tiarna is the President of the Pony Club and one of the main organisers of the Bull and Bronc Ride each year. The Britten family moved to Inverell for Tyler’s medical needs, but they return every Easter to help run this huge event,” Simone said.
“$1 from each gate entry and $10 from every Novice Bull Ride entry with be donated to Diamond Black Fan Anaemia Foundation to assist with research to find a cure.”
“We have seven events for the evening, with the top prize money being $10,000 in the Open Bull Ride. The cowboys love coming to Lightning Ridge.”
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