A local competitor has been axed from the Isa Rodeo competition after voicing her opinion about gate admission prices.
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Courtney Gray had nominated in the ladies barrel race, before venting her outrage about gate prices on Facebook stating $45 a day and $50 for Saturday was "completely over the top".
"No wonder why they never have any locals there watching cause we would have to make $1000 a day just to be able to go. The biggest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, more like the shitest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere," the Facebook post said.
After posting her views, Ms Gray received much support from friends and extended community with the post receiving more then 200 likes and 150 shares.
However she received an unwelcome response from Isa Rodeo chief executive officer, Natalie Flecker.
"I received a call on Thursday last week from Natalie," Ms Gray said.
"Natalie said "I see you wrote a post on Facebook last week calling it the shitest rodeo" and I agreed. She said "due to this we are not accepting your nomination" in shock with their decision I said "you can't do that" she continued to tell me that they could.
"I then asked if it was because I voiced my opinion and she said "pretty much". I contacted her later when I got home and she told me I would have to retract my statement for them to reconsider, but for this year it was a no."
Ms Gray said the actions of the Isa Rodeo were petty and unfair.
"You can't discriminate against one person because they had an opinion. A lot of people shared the post, they obviously have the same believes on the prices. And to single me out because I was honest and spoke up on my social media is just completely petty and unfair.
"I'm not complaining about the competition side of things more about the price of the gate in general. I have a family that are very supportive of me; my mum, step dad and my in-laws. Unfortunately they aren't willing to pay such a high price just to come watch me, especially when you have two runs over different days."
Ms Gray said she asked Ms Flecker for a statement in writing.
"I've asked for a copy of the minutes from the meeting where they had made the decision to confirm that it was a group decision and not just made by one person," Ms Gray said.
"I sent a text to Natalie and heard nothing back and an email to two other people on the committee and nothing back at all."
The Isa Rodeo responded to Ms Gray through email late Monday afternoon, quoting the rules that the committee don't have to accept day members.
The North West Star contacted the Isa Rodeo for a formal response and was told "we have communicated the reasons to Courtney and won't be making further comment."
When contacting the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) who's banner the Isa Rodeo is run under, the organisation said the action "was a committee based decision which is within the rules of the APRA."
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