NICKNAMED the Master Blaster, the man credited with introducing bronco branding to Queensland has won his third Australian title at the age of 79.
Jim Nunn started competing in the sport, which keeps Australia's traditional method of branding cattle in the bush alive, when he lived in South Australia and kept it up when he moved up to Stonehenge, helping stage the first event for the state in 1991.
Although he has previously claimed two national singles titles, at Longreach in 1998 and at Stonehenge in 2002, Sunday's win in the saddle with three of his sons - Luke, Matt and Cameron - was a special thrill.
After the first round of the singles section of the 2014 national bronco branding championships, Jim's Stonehenge team was sitting in the middle of the pack of the final 10, up against the very fast first round time of 2:28 posted by the South Australian team from Mt Barry Station.
Ropes and calves didn't fall well for them or five other teams though and Jim's final combined time of 8:46 was enough to give him and his sons the win.
The 2013 singles winner, Peter Kleinschmidt teamed up with Mal Debney from Mt Isa, along with Mick Bichsel, Tricia Bichsel and Carolyn Doyle as the Contractors team to win the 2014 national doubles branding championship.
Although the Mt Barry boys couldn't defend last year's doubles win, Tony Williams won the trophy for the fastest catch of
the weekend, nine seconds, home on his charter flight.
In the novice Dan Pitman, Richard Oldfield, Boy Geiger and Maree Rayment won the money.
Event secretary Leonie Nunn said it had been an exceptional weekend for the tiny town of 30 people, attracting hundreds of competitors and spectators for a huge program that included a gymkhana, team penning, stockman's challenge and rodeo as well as bronco branding.
This was despite the rain front that passed over the region on Friday and with challenging seasonal and economic conditions for all.
Rodeo nominations were "huge" and similar to previous years for the bronco branding - 35 single nominations, 20 in the double and 13 for the novice.
People came from Mt Isa, Camooweal, Tobermory, Bedourie, Birdsville, Murnpe-owie, Oodnadatta and from the local towns of Longreach, Jundah, Windorah and Stonehenge to compete.
Peter and Donna Batt of Eldwick continued their 20-year tradition of supplying cattle for the event, which saw them receive life membership this year.
"If it wasn't for them we wouldn't have a show," Leonie said.
Sally Cripps
Journalist
Journalist
