Cory Miles has competed at the oldest and biggest rodeos in the world as a professional in the USA.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He has won a round at Prescott, Arizona which this year will be hosting its 127th annual Frontier Days and he has made the final of the renowned California Rodeo in Salinas.
"Yeah that was huge, out of 380 steer wrestlers I made the top 12," Miles told the Tribune.
And in two weeks the 37 year old Yass Valley local will be competing in the steer wrestling and team roping at the Yass Rodeo.
"I really look forward to Yass, it's going to be awesome there's always a good atmosphere and the crowd makes it."
With no family background in the sport, it could be considered an unusual choice but Miles said he was naturally drawn to it.
"Well I had horses as a little kid, and I started cutting (sport where the horse rider separates a cow from the herd and keeps it away for a period of time), from there I started riding bulls and bulldogging (steer wrestling)," he explained.
It's the "rush" that keeps him going through numerous shoulder reconstructions and other injuries - "yeah it's not for shiny bums," he laughed.
Miles' connection to the Yass Rodeo is not limited to competing; with his 'Cowboy Cattle Company' providing the Texas Longhorn Steers for the show.
"All the steer wrestling cattle at Yass will be from our stud. We breed our own cattle and do a lot of contracting to rodeos," he explained.
We might be 16,000 kilometres from Salinas but Miles says the Yass Rodeo will punch above its weight in terms of riding talent.
"Yass is my hometown so it's always special and we will put on a show...It'll be strong competition, it always is."
The Yass Rodeo takes place on Saturday November 9. For more information contact the Yass Show Society on 6226 1615 or visit the website www.yassshow.org.au.
