Sporting Venues & Sports Clubs

For a small community, Spalding boasts many excellent sporting facilities and many active sporting clubs. The Mid North Games were the initiation of the Spalding community, and have been held since 1991.
 

Air Pistol Club	Spalding Pistol Club, Clare Rd, Spalding	Jeff (08) 8665 4013 Kevin (08) 8845 2268
Basketball	Spalding Sports Association Contact - Darren Longbottom	Phone (08) 8845 2208
Big Bore Rifle Club	5km south of town on Clare Rd Contact - Trevor Boulton	Phone (08) 8845 2166
Cricket	Spalding Cricket Club Contact - Tom Trengove	Phone 0407 452009
Fishing	Anywhere along the Broughton River.  Permission should be sought from land owners. Enquiries at the Pub.	Phone (08) 88452006
Football Club	Oval at Government Rd, Spalding  BSR Football Club Contact: Darren Longbottom Spalding Football Club Contact: Geoff Matters Web Site	Darren (08) 8845 2208 Geoff (08) 88452 2023
	Spalding Sports Association Contact - Kevin Fitzgerald	Phone (08) 8845 2268
Lawn Bowls	Bowling Green, 8 Main St, Spalding Contact - David Bruce	Phone (08) 8845 8082
Netball	Spalding Sports Association Contact - Darren Longbottom	Phone (08) 8845 2208
	BSR    Web Site Contact - Meredith Wilsdon	Phone (08) 8845 8006
Live Range Pistol Club	Spalding Pistol Club, 3km south of town on Clare Rd, Contact - Jeff Cadzow, Kevin Fitzgerald	Jeff (08) 8665 4013 Kevin (08) 8845 2268
Rodeo	Held annually in November Contact - Keith Pluckrose. Next Rodeo will be held on Saturday 28th November, 2009.	Phone 0428 452199 pluckrose@bigpond.com
Swimming	Pool open in summer months only, at 13 Munduney St, Spalding Contact - Melissa Longmire	Phone (08) 8845 2012
Table Tennis	Winter Competition Contact - Raelene Tohl	Phone (08) 8845 2105
Tennis	Spalding Tennis Courts, Davies Tce, Spalding Contact - Adam Scott	Phone (08) 8845 80
	Andrews Tennis Courts, Andrews Rd, Andrews Contact - Margaret Bruce	Phone (08) 8845 8082
	Washpool Tennis Club, Jamestown Rd, Washpool Contact - Chris Cootes	Phone (08) 8665 4072

The Spalding Rodeo has now become an important date on the Rodeo Circuit throughout Australia. 

The history of rodeos in Spalding had its origin on June 6th 1949, when members of a local committee and other interested residents gathered at a public meeting to explore ways of funding a proposed War Memorial Building in the township of Spalding.

After deciding on a Rodeo as the principal fundraiser for the building, those at the meeting formed a Committee with Mr GR Neill as inaugural President.

The first Rodeo was held on the Spalding Oval (the site of the Rodeo this year) on 29th October, 1949. One of Australia's outback legends RM Williams, of Adelaide was asked to help the Committee organize the day.

The necessary facilities were built, including stockyards and safety fences, on the oval. Horses were bought or hired for the Event, while the Ladies War Memorial Committee provided luncheon. The Rodeo which was followed by a dance in the Spalding District Hall, proved to be a huge success, making a net profit of 270 pounds, or $540, a very handsome sum in those days!

In 1951, the Spalding Rodeo attracted 1500 adults and 490 children, with gate takings being 324 pounds, or $648 and a net profit for the day of 451 pounds ($902).

The showmen's Guild was invited to conduct sideshows at the 1954 event and these became a regular and colourful spectacle in the ensuing years.

The South Australian Buckjumping Championships were held at the Spalding Rodeo in 1956, with the first prize winner taking home 65 pounds, or $130.

In 1958, a polo match replaced the rodeo, but the event returned in 1959 and 1960. However, the Rodeo in those two years was run at an overall loss, (although the gate money was more than 478 pounds $956) in 1959.

A meeting of the organising committee, held in December 1960, decided against holding any further Rodeos, and the yards and other facilities were sold.

The proceeds, together with the Committee's credit balance were distributed among the local cricket, football, tennis, swimming and bowling clubs.

After an absence of some 41 years Rodeo's have again became a feature in Spalding with successful Rodeos held annually since 2001.

For further information go to Spalding Rodeo Website or contact:

President: Keith Pluckrose 0428 452199 pluckrose@bigpond.com

or Secretary Melanie Dean at bdmd@aapt.net.au

SPALDING RODEO COMMITTEE

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