History
The first ever Bronco Branding Competition was held in Alice Springs in May of 1984. It was run by the late R.M. Williams. Oodnadatta hosted its first Bronco Branding Event in August of 1984 at Macumba Station. In 1991, Queensland held its first Bronco Branding Competition at Stonehenge run by Jimmy Nunn. In 1995, Queensland introduced the Doubles Bronco Branding Events.
The Australian National Bronco Branding Championships have been held at:
1995: Winton, Queensland
1996: Oodnadatta, South Australia
1998: Longreach, Queensland
2000: Oodnadatta, South Australia
2002: Stonehenge, Queensland
2004: William Creek, South Australia
2006: Windorah, Queensland
2007: Oodnadatta, South Australia
2008: Camooweal, Queensland
2009: Marla, South Australia
2010: Birdsville, Queensland
2011: Marree, South Australia
2012: Longreach, Queensland
2013: William Creek, South Australia
2014: Stonehenge, Queensland
2015: Oodnadatta, South Australia
2016: Mt Isa, Queensland
2017: William Creek, South Australia
2018: Alice Springs, Northern Territory
2019: Camooweal, Queensland
2020: Cancelled due to Covid 19
2021: Quorn, South Australia
2022: Jundah, Queensland
2023 Marree, South Australia
2024: Aileron, Northern Territory
2025: Birdsville, Queensland
The Competition
Novice:
The organising committee of any South Australian Bronco Branding Circuit event may elect to have a Novice category in running of the Singles Event. In such instance, the following criteria will be standard across the circuit
A novice competitor is defined as any person who has never won an open singles bronco branding event. If a competitor has won one (1) open singles or two (2) novice events, they are then only eligible to compete in the open singles. Winning a doubles event does not make a novice catcher an open catcher.
Any person who enters as a Novice and is later proved to be ineligible for Novice competition, will be banned from competing in South Australian Bronco Branding Circuit events. This person may appeal to the South Australian Bronco Branding Association, who may reverse or uphold the ban as they see fit.
Rules of the Singles event apply to any Novice competition, though time limits may be altered by the judge and clarified prior to beginning of the event (3 minutes to catch first calf and 8 minutes to catch the third calf).
Each team consists of four members, one catcher and three ground crew – a front leg roper, a back leg roper and a brander. The catcher catches the clean skin, and the ground crew leg ropes it to the bronco panel, scruffs it to the ground, paint brands and ear marks it. This event is for new/beginner catchers who have not won an open event. They can win 2 novice events before being an open catcher.
Singles:
Each team consists of four members, one catcher and three ground crew – a front leg roper, a back leg roper and a brander. The catcher catches the clean skin and the ground crew leg ropes it to the bronco panel, scruffs it to the ground, paint brands and ear marks it. This is a timed event.
There is one round during which each team is required to catch three calves. The six fastest teams progress to the finals round. The scores from both rounds are then added together to determine the final placings.
Doubles:
Each team consists of five members, two catchers with three ground crew, just as in the singles competition. The procedure is the same excepting that five calves are caught rather than three.
You can experience this outback tradition by heading bush and coming along to the Bronco Branding Shows held throughout the South Australian Outback.
Point System
How the point system works:
At the end of each event, the total points and times of each team will be recorded by the judges and ratified by the President or Secretary of the event organising committee.
To be eligible for circuit points, the team must compete in the final, and make time in the final.
Each year’s competition runs a complete calendar year plus one event. At the completion of the final event, Bronco Branding SA will determine which teams have accrued the most points for the season.
Those teams determined to have the most points shall be named South Australian Champions.
Should there be a draw, both teams will be named as joint champions.
Singles Event:
The team will take a name of the catcher’s choice.
To be eligible for points, the catcher and team name must remain the same in all events.
The team with the most points will be the winner of the singles event and deemed the South Australian Bronco Branding Singles Champion.
Doubles Event:
The team will take a name of their own choice.
To be eligible for points, the team name and at least one catcher must remain the same in all events.
The winner of the doubles event will be deemed the South Australian Bronco Branding Doubles Champion.
Place Points
1st – 10
2nd – 7
3rd – 4
4th – 3
5th – 2
6th – 1
Rules
The Novice has the same rules as a singles event. The time allowed is different.
Singles Event
- The judge’s decision is final.
- The officials at each event will be:
- A judge approved by the South Australian Bronco Branding Association, who will be assisted by another approved person who is deemed appropriate by the event organising committee. Clock starts and stops on the judges/official whistle.
- Two timekeepers – times to be recorded in minutes, seconds and 100’s of seconds. Both timers keep time and the end time is split. In the event one timer fails then the other time will be used solely.
- Score Board Recorder – Where possible all teams name and times to be displayed where everyone can see.
- The judge or event organising committee may refuse right of entry to any competitor. Judge/s must have a scoresheet to record all penalties and times, and the penalties must be scored before the judge/s approaches the timekeepers. The judge must announce (or get the commentator) any team penalties when the time is recorded so the team are aware of what they did wrong.
- The team will take the name of the catcher. Limit of four people to a team:
- 1 catcher – must remain the same in every circuit event to accrue points,
- 2 leg ropers, back leg & front leg
- 1 brander.
- A competitor may compete a maximum of four times, in each event (Novice, Singles, Doubles) but only do each position once, or at the discretion of the committee organising the event.
- Approved Bronco Gear must be used:
- Greenhide, cotton or nylon rope,
- quick release is mandatory,
- bridles or halters are acceptable horse gear,
- roping saddles are not allowed.
- In the case of broken gear:
- The clock will keep running.
- Only team members may assist.
- Work wear clothing essential, no shorts or thongs. Wide brim or baseball cap acceptable.
- If competitors display excessive bad sportsmanship or abusive language within the arena they will be disqualified.
- Starting positions for all rounds will be determined by a draw.
- Discretion of the judge to change the draw line up. Competitors need to ask the event judge
- Horses to go a maximum of 2 times in a row
- Optional to ask the judge to swap positions in round 1
- Final: The draw is fixed. Those competitors borrowing horses will need to have a backup option/horse should it be required
- Time will be taken when the judge/official blows the whistle when the horse crosses the line of the panel to start and when all gear is behind the panel at the conclusion of the last calf. Time can start/stop during the event from this signal should it be signalled.
- If a ground crew member gets hurt to such an extent where it is deemed dangerous to themselves to a participate, that team can sub out ad sub in some one (time keeps running) to complete the run. In the case of a severe injury the judge will signal to stop the clock (all action must cease). The team can choose to replace the member or forfeit their run. If the injured person was a member of another team and that team has not already participated then that team may get a replacement, providing the replacement covers rule 5.
- If a beast is injured, the judge will signal the timekeepers to stop the clock. The judge will signal the timekeepers to restart the clock once the injured beast is removed. Stop and starting of clock will be indicated by a whistle.
- The ground crew must not change position partway through an event.
- The ground crew must not enter the mob. Incorrect actions will incur a 10 sec penalty.
- If the catcher loses control or is thrown from his horse or dismounts for any reason before completion of the teams run and time is called, the team will be disqualified.
- The horse must not exceed a trot. Trotting into or out of the mob is not allowed, horse must be clear of the mob before trotting. Incorrect actions will incur a 10 sec penalty.
- All calves must be caught with a clean neck catch. Horn catch is acceptable. If 2 calves are caught, there must only be 1 calf in the rope when it hits the panel; or it will be deemed a foul catch.
- The catcher must throw the rope across the centre line of the horse. They may not place the rope onto the calf. Incorrect actions will be deemed a foul catch.
- Foul catches must be released clear of the mob or at the panel. The catcher may re-throw.
- The calf must come to the panel on its feet. A dragged calf or choking down will incur a 10 secs penalty. Deliberate dragging/mistreatment of a calf will result in immediate disqualification.
- Any rough handling of stock will incur a 10 sec penalty. Deliberate mistreatment of stock will result in immediate disqualification of the team.
- The calf may be handled and leg-roped once clear of the mob.
- The calf may not be thrown, earmarked or branded until it touches the panel.
- The leg ropes must be below the knee or hock. Front leg rope must be wrapped on the bottom or second rail or below the second rail of front post, back leg rope must be wrapped around the post below the second rail and wrapped one and a half times. The calf must remain in place, with the beast securely on its side in the branding position, until the calf is branded or marked. Incorrect actions will incur a 10 sec penalty.
- The judge will clarify the rail used before the competition begins.
- The Judge will stand cattle up in the mob after a break.
- All calves must be leg-roped.
- All ropes and competitor equipment must be clear of and behind the panel for the clock to stop.
- An incorrect earmark or brand will result in a 10 sec penalty. The judge will clarify the earmark and brand before the competition begins.
- Branding irons must be returned to their base before the clock is stopped.
- The first calf must be caught within 2 ½ minutes. Three calves must be caught in 6 minutes. Times may be altered by the committee organising the event and will be clarified by the judge before the beginning of each round.
- If a beast is injured, the judge will signal the timekeepers to stop the clock. The judge will signal the timekeepers to restart the clock once the injured beast is removed. Stop & starting of the clock will be indicated by a whistle.
- If a calf goes through the panel, it must be brought back to the correct side of the panel before continuing.
- If the calf follows the horse around the ramp, the beast must be returned the same side as it went past the panel or must be brought round the ramp and back to the panel. The rope must not be thrown over the centre post, this will result in disqualification.
- In the event of a draw and time permits both teams will catch 1 calf and the time added to their existing time to determine the winner. If time in not permitting then a toss of a coin is permissible to determine the winner.
- Team members shall remain the same in the 1st round and finals unless approved by the judges on the day.
- If a team or teams is/are disqualified, then the top six (6) qualifying times will progress to compete in the finals.
Doubles Event
Rules as per Singles Bronco Branding Competition with additional conditions as follows;
- The team will take a chosen name. Limit of five people to a team:
- Five calves must be completed to record a time. The first calf must be caught within 2 ½ minutes and the fifth calf must be caught within 8 minutes. Time may be altered by the committee organising the event and will be clarified by the judge before the beginning of each round.
- In the event of a draw both teams will catch 3 calves and the time added to their existing time to determine the winner. If time in not permitting then a toss of a coin is permissible to determine the winner.
Animal Welfare Code
Click the link below to read the Animal Welfare Code followed at all BBSA Bronco Branding events.
BBSA-Animal-Welfare-Code-2024-
https://broncobrandingsa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/BBSA-Animal-Welfare-Code-2024-2.pdf