The bulls contracted from Scone, NSW, clearly unsettled the riders.

There were few bull rides qualifying past the eight seconds at the South 32 Best of the West rodeo held at the Cloncurry equestrian centre. 

Jack Rasheed and Jim Hyde from Katherine, competed in the saddle bronc competition.

Donovan Rutherfurd, from Malbonvale Station in the Cloncurry Shire, 40 kilometres south of Mount Isa - won with a total 83 points. He lasted the eight seconds in the first round but was unable to add to it in the final. 

“There was a lot of money up and good bulls, it feels good to stay on,” he said behind the chutes shortly after receiving his prize money from sponsor and stock contractor Edward Throsby.

“I could not get it out. It was bloody rough,” he said. 

“I got out of that pretty good. 

“I am a bit sore everywhere but I guess it could have been a lot worse than what it was.” 

Rutherfurd works with his grandparents at Malbonvale. His cousins compete in rodeos and so watching them motivated him to take on the sport too. 

“I work with cattle every day, so why not try it?” he said. 

“It’s pretty fun so far.” 

Rutherfurd was uncertain where he would compete next, but he suspected it would be the Warwick Rodeo held on the last weekend of October. 

His hand was caught in the rope as he was bucked off in the final. Rutherfurd said he was lucky to walk away almost unscathed.

Meanwhile, in other Queensland-based sporting news, fishers have been reminded that barramundi will be off limits in the Gulf of Carpentaria from midday October 7 until midday February 1.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) acting district officer Bill Nason said the closure was in place to protect barramundi stock during their vulnerable spawning season. 

"Barramundi typically aggregate in one area to spawn, making them more vulnerable to predators and fishing pressure,” Mr Nason said.

“Closed seasons allow stocks to replenish to ensure there are healthy fish stores for current and future generations of Queenslanders.

"It's important that barramundi are not targeted for catch and release during a closed season as the stress of capture may actually prevent the fish from spawning.”

Mr Nason said QBFP officers would be out patrolling Queensland waters over the spawning season.

"Officers conduct regular patrols.”