Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 30 October 1951, page 3


SHE'LL CHALLENGE U.S. STARS Mother of two

rodeo champion

From a STAFF REPORTER

WARWICK, Monday. — The mother of two children became Australian women's buck-jumping champion to-day.  

Next year she plans to try her luck at New York's Madison Square Garden against America's best rough-riders. She is slim, attractive Mrs. Kitty Gill, of Tamworth, who beat nine of Australia's foremost horsewomen at the Warwick Commonwealth of Australia Jubilee Rodeo. The rodeo ended this afternoon. Proud husband and veteran rough-rider Stan Gill said to-day: 'I'm making arrangements to take Kitty to New York next year for the big Madison Square Rodeo. I'll bet she can show the American girls how an Aus-sie can ride.' Marrieds' day Finals of the Warwick rodeo to-day proved a day out for 'marrieds.' Darryl Holden, 23; of Kempsey (N.S.W.) won the Australian buck-jumping championship, and his wife, Nora, with 165 points of a possible 200, was only one point behind Kitty Gill in the women's event. An estimated 9000 people packed Warwick Showground for to-day's final. Gate takings for the three days were a record, £2600— more than £100 above last year's two-day rodeo. Former Australian champion buck-jumper, Tom Willoughby, of Crookwell, N.S.W., N.S.W., lost his title to Holden — but evened up the score in the bullock riding. Tom became Australian bullock riding champion. Title record Sinewy Bernie Smyth, of Kempsey, set a 7 1/2 seconds record for the Warwick grounds to win the bulldogging championship.New New South Wales girl, Gertrude Brooks, rode her own horse, Popeye, to victory in the open campdraft for the Warwick cup. Holden was also declared outstanding all-round contestant of the rodeo.