Instead they were already planning how to make next year’s bigger and better.

Organiser Billy Edis said about 2500 people ventured to the field days site in Allansford on Saturday to watch the action-packed event.

“It was a great turnout for the first time,” Edis said.

“The rain beforehand probably kept some people away but we were still happy with the people who came out to support it.”

He estimated there would have been about 4000 spectators if it wasn’t for wet weather in the afternoon.

Reigning Victorian open bullriding champion Adam Hinkley, from Colac, claimed the feature event, the open bull ride.

He rode Copy Cat to earn a score of 86 points, which was five more points than runner-up Joel Hamilton, of Tasmania.

“All of the bullriders put on a really good show,” said Edis, adding that Warrnambool would host another rodeo next year.

“A lot of people said it was a fantastic family-friendly night.

“There’s already plans in motion to make it bigger and better next year.”

He said a way to attract more competitors was to hold a western Victoria rodeo series, which would include Tyrendarra, Dartmoor, Nelson and Warrnambool, with the overall winner to receive a trophy buckle.

Edis said that the potential series was discussed on Saturday night. He believed the weekend’s rodeo offered many people a different experience.

“I think that people liked the adrenalin and just the excitement of seeing something very dangerous,” he said.

Other winners included South Australian Glen Kent (open saddlebronc), Queenslander Lee Bowker (open bareback), Dartmoor’s Kristi McLean (ladies’ barrel), Warrnambool’s Anthony Ryan (second division bull ride) and Dartmoor’s Tammy Woodall (junior barrel).