The stars of New Zealand’s Got Talent, Dogmatic will perform at Claudelands International Rodeo in Hamilton on Saturday 24 November.

The dog stars are a multi-talented team of Border Collies lead by champion dog trainer Chelsea Marriner. They perform a high energy show of unusual tricks and are highly accomplished in agility/ flygility, canine freestyle.

Chelsea is based in Rotorua and her dogs are some of the highest qualified teams of agility / flygility dogs in NZ.  She won Wonder Dogs in 2005, made the 2008 Grand Final of NZ’s Got Talent and in 2010 she represented NZ (in a team of three) at the World Agility Championships in England.    In this year’s NZ’s Got Talent, along with her four dog team Dogmatic, she won the popular vote and fans will get the chance to, not only see Dogmatic perform at the rodeo, but also meet the canine stars when Chelsea gives a talk and short performance outside Claudelands Arena prior to the rodeo.

Also joining the incredible line-up of some of the world’s best rodeo riders are trick and stunt riders Katie McVeanfrom Cambridge/Mystery Creek and Christchurch’s Sonia Duncan.

Katie recently competed in the World Cup Final in Leipzig where she finished sixth and has competed regularly in Europe and America.  Her family specializes in the training, breeding and show jumping - father Jeff represented Australia at three Olympic Games for show jumping and ranked in the world’s Top 10 for show jumping and mother Vicki represented Australia in Cup Competitions.

Sonia Duncan has 11 years of stunt riding experience and has ridden and performed in TV and movies like the Tribeand Lord of the Rings.  She says trick riding is like gymnastics on the back of a fast running horse that takes hours, days and years to perfect plus the horses need to be broad minded and willing to run, 15 hands high, nimble and surefooted.  Her tricks include the Cossack Drag (hanging upside down, by one foot, on the side of the horse), Hippo Stand, (standing up on the horse with the feet in the strap), Backwards on the Neck and the Half Fender (hanging horizontally along the side of the moving horse).

Other performers at the International Rodeo include Rodeo Clown Big Al Wilson (AUS), Announcer Kedo Olsen (USA) and live music from the Brendon Ham Band (Auckland)

Australasian riders include - Joe Fentiman, Rex Church, Scott Graham, Ramoan Neho, Paul Robinson, Simon Roughan, Mel Church, Abby Hutchinson, Cheyeene Church , Caitlin Parsons, Kristen Tahau, Annette McPherson, Rachael Third, Gayle Blake, Jono Reed, Johnson Davis, Paddy Church,  Andrew Jamison,  Rhys Angland, Cody Angland, Jackson Laurie and Brad Pierce.

Canadian and American riders include Dustin Tompkins, Steven Turner, Logan Hodson, Tony Buchman, Shane Faulkner, Eddie Jacques, Wyatt Denny, Chandler Bownds, Lucas Guilbeau

Get your tickets to the International Rodeo from www.ticketek.co.nz / 0800-TICKETEK

Be part of a huge action packed night that will include big show production, pyrotechnics, entertainment and more.  Every ticket includes free access to the official after-party where you can meet the stars of the rodeo!