Champion cowboys, bucking broncs and $19,000 in rodeo prize money kick off The Bend Classic today, opening three days of country music, classic cars and camping at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend.
Gates open at 8am for motorsport and car displays, with tonight’s rodeo action starting from 5pm. Bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback and barrel racing will run under lights until 9pm, followed by the Old Town Rd Country Dance Party until 11pm.
South Australian cowboys to watch
SA cowboy Clay Flanagan, sitting in the top three of the 2026 Rodeo Services Australia (RSA) standings, brings experience from the Canadian college rodeo circuit and an RSA finals title to the open bull ride. He will face Swan Hill’s Riley Eade, a multiple RSA open bull riding champion making his first appearance on home soil since returning from competing in the United States.
Among the young South Australians to watch is second-generation cowboy Coyote Kent from Finniss, who sits second in junior bull riding and third in second division bull riding. The Woodall family’s rodeo legacy will also be on show, with Toni-Jean Woodall, granddaughter of Woodall Rodeo Promotions patriarch Ron Woodall, competing in the junior barrel race as defending 2025 RSA junior barrel racing champion.
“Rodeo has been in my blood for more than 70 years and it never gets old,” Ron Woodall said. “When the bulls are bucking and the crowd are up on their feet cheering there is nothing like it.”
Saturday’s country music line-up
Tomorrow, Lee Kernaghan and James Johnston headline a seven-artist Australian country music line-up. Denvah opens proceedings at 12.30pm, followed by Andrew Swift, Tori Darke (including a Dolly Parton tribute performance of ‘9 to 5’), James Blundell and Robbie Mortimer before Kernaghan takes the stage at 8pm.
At 9pm, Saddle & Stomp will lead a South Australian line dancing record attempt, calling on more than 800 fans to join the dance floor to James Johnston’s ‘One More’.
There is horsepower of a different kind in tomorrow’s Beer & Rum Run, with teams of four racing hobby horses in a 100-metre relay while trying to keep every drop of Coopers Beer or Beenleigh Rum in their cups. Entry is free for event ticket holders aged 18 and over.
Classic cars and a drive-in screening
The Classic Car Collection at the Welcome Centre features screen legends including a Magnum, P.I. Ferrari 308 GTS and a Dukes of Hazzard General Lee Dodge Charger, alongside a Ferrari Dino, Jaguar E-Type, Chevrolet Corvette C2, Ford Mustang, Ferrari F40, Aston Martin DB5 and Lamborghini Miura.
Sunday brings a Smokey and the Bandit show and shine ahead of a 6.30pm drive-in screening at the Dragway. A Kenworth W900A, the same model Snowman drove in the film, will be on display.
Tickets and camping
Friday admission, including tonight’s rodeo, is $45 for adults, $40 concession and $10 for children aged 5–15. Saturday admission, including the country music concert, is $119 for adults, $114 concession and $10 for children. Three-day general admission is $149 for adults, $139 concession and $20 for children. Children aged four and under enter free with a paying adult.
Turn 1 camping packages for tents and swags start at $189 per adult, including three-day event admission, with camping open until Monday 5 October.
Proudly presented by Burson Auto Parts, The Bend Classic runs 2–4 October 2026 at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend.
Tickets and camping:
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