ONE of Cloncurry’s favourite sons, Dean McIntyre, will be wrestling steers, roping calves and shaking plenty of hands at the Merry Muster which kicks off today.
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For Dean, 34, it’s his first trip home in 13 years, and his presence at the three-day Muster adds a sizable amount of class to the event.
The son of Cliff and Bonnie McIntyre and a member of a rodeo family through and through, the big, strong, strapping steer wrestling champ from Wickenburg, Arizona, is back.
This time he’s brought his wife Jamie and two-year-old daughter Kashlyn to show them the sights, sounds and people of the Curry.
“I left Cloncurry at 17 and went to study in (US) college rodeos.”
There he graduated as a welder and boilermaker, and now runs his own fencing and barn-building business in the heart of rodeo country.
“I haven’t been back for 13 years,” he said.
“My wife’s never been here so we’ll be showing them around a bit.”
Talking with a hint of American twang, the amicable McIntyre also has his sights set on doing some serious rodeo fun.
He rides the rodeo bulls, but is best known in the US as a champion steer wrestler, and has recorded some quick sub-10 second times.
At this weekend’s Muster, the rodeo “Man v Beast” kicks off early tomorrow, and Dean and his family will be there early to prepare for steer wrestling, calf roping and team roping with Casey and Tony Lillyman.
It’s the first port of call in a three-stop visit to mix business with pleasure.
Next weekend Dean will be taking on the best in Australia, and some of the world, in the Xstrata Mount Isa Rodeo, and then will follow the circuit to Darwin where wants to show his family some of the unique parts of the Northern Territory.
Merry Muster program
Friday
9am-11am Country Teddy Bears Picnic (Mary Kathleen Memorial Park)
6pm Cloncurry Courier Service Street Parade
6.30pm Bushmans Bash start with live Rodeo action, entertainment and community group stalls.
Saturday
8.30am Curry Merry Muster Festival begins.
10am Rodeo starts
3.00pm Patricia Coates book launch (PCYC Hall).
7pm Official Opening and Grand Parade
10pm-1am Live entertainment.
Sunday
8am-12 noon Bush Poets Campfire Breakfast; Community Markets; Outback Aussie Games.
9am ATRA Roping.
Enquiries to Peta McIntyre 0487 760 503.
