SERIOUSLY INJURED: John Crasti completes a ride at the East to West Coast Rodeo Championship. He was later seriously injured after being crushed by a bull in the chute.
EAST to West Coast Rodeo Championship president Allen Wilson will lobby to have the event made a permanent fixture in Orange.
He was thrilled with the turnout and the response from crowds, with about 4000 people walking through the gates at the Orange Showground on Saturday night.
“It was a fantastic rodeo,” he said.
“I will certainly be putting forward that we should stay here in Orange.”
Mr Wilson said the rodeo attracted crowds of about 7000 people when it was held on the central coast.
Considering Orange is half the size, he thinks residents have more of a thirst for the event.
“If last night’s response was anything to go by I think it will get bigger,” he said.
“It was the first one here and these things grow with time.”
Mr Wilson was surprised by the attitude of rodeo-goers in Orange.
“The crowd, that’s what I liked about it so much, they just cheered and cheered,” he said.
“When a bull wouldn’t leave the ring and rodeo clown had to do his thing, they really appreciated the effort it takes.”
Mr Wilson said the decision to keep the rodeo in Orange did not rest with him, but he would certainly be giving the city a thumbs up.
He said it would be a joint decision by the organisers of the event.
If successful, Mr Wilson anticipates the rodeo will be held at the same time next year.
Meanwhile, a Forest Reefs bull rider is in a serious condition in Royal North Shore Hospital after being crushed by a bull during the rodeo.
Event organisers named the man as 19-year-old John Crasti.
Mr Crasti mounted the bull in the chute however the bull fell backwards before it was released.
The bull rider was pinned underneath the bull for several minutes while the animal tried to get back on its feet.
An event organiser said the bull weighed about 680 kilograms.
Mr Crasti was treated by St John Ambulance officers until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.
The paramedics took him to Orange Health Service before he was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital.
