General News
6 August, 2024
Bareback champ has come a long way for one event
Jarrod McKane flew into the North West to take aim at bareback buckles in Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Townsville.
Jarrod McKane is undoubtedly the best bareback rider in the country, but good luck getting him on anything else in the rodeo.
“The saddle bronc scares me sometimes,” he told North West Weekly en route to the Curry Merry Muster, where he finished third in the bareback ride.
So why does he love the event that many see as being unconventional and less attractive from a prizemoney perspective?
“Probably just the adrenaline rush and the challenge of riding a horse that you shouldn’t be able to ride,” McKane said.
The country Victorian, who is a shearer by trade, flew to the North West for this week’s rodeo circuit and locals know that he’ll need to win a fair bit of prizemoney if he’s to reimburse his costs.
Luckily, McKane has won a fair bit of money this year.
According to the Australian Professional Rodeo Association, the 23-year-old had won $37,815 prior to the Merry Muster – more than $20,000 than next best bareback rider Henry Watkins.
“It’s just part of it, but I get to see a fair bit of the country, which is good,” the Wodonga product said of the travel that comes with rodeo.
This weekend in Mount Isa, he can add another $6000 to his bank account with a win, and the are odds are pretty good considering there are only 14 entries in the bareback – much fewer than the 42 nominated for the saddle bronc.
“It would be nice to get a cheque but I’m not driven by the money,” the young gun said.
McKane crashed onto the scene in 2021 when he finished second in the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo and went on to be named the APRA Rookie of the Year and claimed his first Australian bareback title.
While he missed out in 2022, he regained his crown last year, which also coincided with his first buckle from Mount Isa.
McKane produced two good rides to win by just one point last year on what was a golden run for the cowboy – he also won the bareback at Cloncurry the week before.
This year, he’s drawn bucking horse Medicine Woman in his opening round, which is scheduled for Friday night. The final is the first event on Saturday night.