The rodeo comes to Richmond

9:20am Monday 10th September 2007

THE Wild West came to town when 50 horses and western-style riders gathered at a riding centre to stage a rodeo.

The event, at Richmond Equestrian Centre, near Catterick, was organised by Martin Kiss - better known as Django - who hit the headlines when his trekking centre fell foul of Yorkshire Dales National Park planners.

Mr Kiss moved out of his caravan at Skeb Skeugh Farm, Thwaite, in Swaledale, at the end of last year after being defeated by the planning process.

Undeterred, he organised the two-day Wild West Show, which ended yesterday, with help from the Western Horsemen's Association of Great Britain.

It featured demonstrations of horse-riding skills, including reining, cutting, pole bending and cattle penning, and visitors had the chance to ride a mechanical bull.

Saturday's event ended with a line dancing and country music night.