Australian Rodeo - Governing Organizations

Governing Organizations

In August 1944 the Australian Bushmen's Carnival Association (ABCA) was formed by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, as a result of the increase in the number of bushmen's carnivals. The purpose of this formation was to standardize regulations and rules, but insufficient support was given and the association was terminated in 1947. Another national association, for professional riders, the Australian Rough Rider’s Association (ARRA) was formed on 1 January 1945 with Ron Boardman as chairman and R. M. Williams as secretary. Later that year this association adapted and adopted American rules and regulations for their competitions. They held their first rodeos in South Australia and the “Hoofs & Horns” magazine publicized and supported this group. The ARRA adopted a standard saddle, for the buckjumping, which had a 15 inch tree, 2¼ inch kneepads and was held in place with a crupper and girth. In 1988 the ARRA changed their name to the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA).

On 28 March 1946 the Northern (N.S.W.) Bushmen's Carnival Association was founded at Maitland, New South Wales. The name was again changed in 1960 to the Australian Bushmen’s Carnival Association. On 17 July 1985 the association became a company limited by guarantee, and had yet another name change, to the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association (ABCRA). The ARRA had more good roughriders though, and in 1957 in a Sydney Royal Show competition between the top 25 roughriders from each association the ARRA riders won all of the events.

These two associations gained considerable support and most local bodies are affiliated with one or other of them. They provided affiliated committees by coordinating and assisting all carnivals with standard gear, rules for events and a form of insurance against injuries sustained in competitions. The ABCRA has over 4,800 members and many more ‘day competitors’, which makes it the largest rodeo and campdraft organization in Australia. This association has approximately 200 affiliated committees across the country running events that attract numerous competitors and many hundreds of thousands of spectators annually.

In May 1992 the National Rodeo Council of Australia (NRCA) was formed to further the sport of rodeo and has represented the following associations:

• Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association (ABCRA)
• Australian Professional Bull Riders Association (APBA)
• Central Rodeo Cowboys Association (CRCA)
• Indigenous Rodeo Riders Australia (IRRA)
• National Student Rodeo Association (NSRA)
• National Rodeo Association (NRA)
• Northern Cowboys Association (NCA)
• Queensland Rodeo Association (QRA)
• Rodeo Services Association (RSA)
• West Coast Rodeo Circuit (WCRC)