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90-year-old Coota Cowboy Takes on Mt Isa

Former Australian Rugby League Rep Johnathan Thurston with Coota’s Bob Holder.

Cootamundra’s very own 90-year-old Bob Holder competed at the Mt Isa Mines Rodeo last weekend.

Bob has been competing in the sport for 76 years and continues to pursue his passion he’s had since a young age.

Bob competed in over 55’s team roping at this event last week.

The Mt Isa rodeo in the outback Queensland mining town is the biggest and richest rodeo in the southern hemisphere and always draws a big crowd.

Although the oldest rodeo competitor in Australia has won many titles through his illustrious career.

The Coota cowboy was a rough stock rider who won a saddle bronc round in the national finals in Victoria in 1959.

The champion rodeo rider is also deemed to be the oldest professional of the sport in the world.

Daughter Kerrie won the Ladies Barrel Race with an impressive time of 35.042 seconds.

The experienced Kerrie spoke to the Times about the Mt Isa Rodeo.

“The horse ran well. It was good enough to win it on the day,” Kerrie said.

She spoke on Bob’s longevity in the sport, with a hope to continue deeper into his 90’s.

“He’ll keep going as long as he can keep riding well.”

Post the Mt Isa Rodeo, the Holders have headed up to the Townsville Rodeo to compete again this weekend.

Both Bob and Kerrie will be competing at the same events this weekend as they did last weekend.

“We’ll hopefully win, but we’ve just got to do our best,” Kerrie said.

The Holder’s will be back in Cootamundra in a few weeks once all their Queensland rodeo’s wrap up.

It is an impressive feat for the family that has horse riding in their blood.

At 90-years of age, Bob looks as strong as ever and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him at the rodeo next year continuing to battle it out.

Tim Warren

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