St Arnaud’s Lochlan Flanagan wins national rodeo title

The St Arnaud 17-year-old started the national finals off well on Friday to claim the top round one time in his category, and the third fastest time in the third round on Saturday evening.

His time in the second round was enough for him to end the competition on top of the rankings in order to claim the belt buckle awarded to top riders.

Lochlan said he had not travelled to Queensland expecting to return with a national title.

“I was really just excited when I worked out I’d won,” he said. “I was kind of speechless but I tried to just play it off as though it was nothing big, but it really was.”

Lochlan’s father, Darryle, came from a strong rodeo family, and the passion was passed onto him and his brother from an early age.

His mother, Christine, said he first started competing as a nine-year-old.

“He was on a horse from day dot really because there is such a strong connection to the sport,” she said.

Lochlan said he had always hoped to claim a national title and has put in a lot of hard work to achieve those dreams.

“You’ve always got to be doing something to push yourself,” Lochlan said. “That also comes from the people around you who help you to remain motivated just to achieve something at this level.

“The events you get to compete in are always good but its the people I’ve met along that have driven my passion to keep doing it.”

Lochlan’s younger Thomas also competed at the finals and they were the only two Victorians to qualify for the events.

The top 10 young competitors from across Australia competed in steer ride, rope and tie, team roping, barrel race and breakaway roping categories with a prize for an the all round champion also awarded.

Lochlan also competed in the junior rope and tie, while Tom had qualified for the finals as a heeler in the junior team roping category. Tom managed to win the third round of his category.

“This has been the first real season Tom has been competing more seriously,” Christine said. “It was the first time he’s qualified for finals and he’s done exceptionally well.”

The brothers also had recent success in order to claim Victorian titles.

Lochlan won the junior breakaway roping title while Tom won titles as the junior team heeler as well as the junior all round cowboy.

Those titles were handed out at the six month Victorian season over Easter.

The Flanagans continue to compete as a family with the oldest of the three brothers, Daniel, winning the Victorian title of rookie all round cowboy, steer roper and teamroper header.

Christine said her three sons and Darryle were all talented rodeo competitors and that they would travel from their home just outside St Arnaud to regularly compete in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland as well as Victoria.

“Darryle and I are always very proud of our children with whatever they choose to do,” she said.

 “Just for them to go out and actually have a go is already special. 

“Then to go out and be able to win by competing at such a high level caps it off really well.”

Christine and Darryle were also integral in breathing life back into the St Arnaud Rodeo after a 10-year hiatus in 2017.