By Alva Solomon in Lethem
The theatre of hardy cowboys riding bucking broncos, harnessing wild bulls and attempting to milk uncooperative cows ended yesterday after delighting hundreds of spectators in the two-day Rupununi Rodeo at Lethem.
Hundreds of persons from across the country and further afield including President Bharrat Jagdeo, PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar and several government ministers had flocked the Triple ‘R’ arena on the outskirts of the dusty border town to witness the annual event.
The president had declared the event open on Saturday and he spoke of the transformation that is about to take place in Lethem and the Rupununi. “Lethem is uniquely placed because of its vision with Brazil to be one of the dynamic centres for development with our country, and I expect in upcoming years to see major changes,” he said, according to a Government Information Agency release.
Among the economic activities of which he spoke were the large-scale plantation-type agricultural projects in the Rupununi savannahs; the exploration for oil and gas in the Rupununi; and Lethem’s potential as a trading post between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil. “It offers possibility for thousands of jobs being created; more employment opportunities and income for people here,” the President was quoted as saying.
Aside from the economic development taking place in the area, Jagdeo also spoke of government-funded projects that are in the works, including a $600M contract for the Georgetown to Lethem road, and another road connecting Regions Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).
After the formal opening, vaqueros (cowboys) from across the Rupununi, Berbice and Brazil saddled up for the day’s events even as hucksters and tradesmen from the area, the coastland and from Brazil set up stalls to market their goods. The event also attracted a huge overseas turnout as well as the attention of the Brazilian, local and foreign media which organizers said was good as many would brave the long journey to Lethem by road to get a glimpse of rodeo when it is showcased.
Kicking off events on Saturday was a competition for the best dressed female and male vaquero followed by the ‘bare bronco’, a horse riding event in which the rider aims to stay on the back of a bucking, wild horse. The latter event was well received by the spectators as the riders, many of whom came from the Dadanawa, Kanuku and Point Ranches in the Rupununi, wowed the crowd with their antics on the horses. The event was contested by close to 30 vaqueros with good performances coming from the Brazilian duo, Jusuie and Valdheri.
Later, the “dangerous” bull-riding events kept spectators glued to their seats as vaqueros flirted with danger on the backs of the fierce bulls. Cowboys Egil Felix, Claudious Perry and David Vincent all gave excellent performances as they spent more than six seconds each on the backs of the bull. Each participant is timed by the referee from the moment the bull enters the arena until the rider loses body contact with the animal.
Perry and Felix, both of the Dadanawa Ranch in the South Rupununi, sat atop the bulls and rode the animals into the arena, past the crowds and into the reserve area as spectators looked on in awe. Brazilian rider Jusuie also showcased his rodeo skills as he spent 7.52 seconds atop his bull. He was given a standing ovation by the crowd.
However, those performances were eclipsed by Berbice boy, Odo Peters, the lone participant from the Coastland and who represented the Rising Sun Turf Club of the West Coast of Berbice. Decked out in a red costume, Peters galloped atop his bull into the arena and despite the bull kicking up a storm; the confident cowboy conquered the animal and led him out. But while doing so, Peters executed a ‘straight buck’, a rare manoeuvre in which the rider is able to sit atop a ‘tamed’ bull.
Peters led the bull around the foreground of the arena and waved to the hysterical crowd before slipping off the enraged animal.
Saturday’s events concluded with the cow milking competition, an event in which the vaquero is expected to conquer a cow and milk the animal. That event ended with no result. It was followed by a 2-furlong horse race for amateurs and seniors.
Some rodeo attendees told Stabroek News that the rodeo this year was more of a spectator event since it was not as keenly contested as last year’s and those who came only wanted to be at the event.
The Rupununi rodeo has its origins in the middle of the last century, when vaqueros competed against each other in various skills. It later grew from being a centralised event in St. Ignatius before moving to Lethem in 1985.
