The annual rodeo began in 1960 when sectarian differences were set aside by Bungendore's then population of about 700.

Organisers were delighted with yesterday's attendance.

President of the St Mary's and St Philip's Combined Churches Rodeo Association Greg Darmody said that despite yesterday's cool weather, the crowd had kept rolling in.

There had been some excellent rides, though some horses in particular had proved too good for their riders.

Last year's event, with the spring ball, had raised about $27,000 to be shared between the two churches.

It was too soon to know how much money had been raised yesterday, but, ''I would have thought we had a pretty satisfactory day'', Mr Darmody said.

The parish priest of St Mary's Catholic Church Bungendore is Varghese Vavolil, from South India. He said the rodeo was his parish's major fundraising activity.

''It is good fun and important to bring the community together,'' Father Vavolil said.

Certainly, he saw more people at the rodeo than in church.

At the rodeo, he was strictly an observer.

He had declined suggestions that he participate as a rider, saying he did not want people to witness the last moments of their priest.

Mr Darmody said the rodeo had attracted about 200 riders from all over the place. Some had taken part in rodeos in the United States and Canada.

It was a tough sport in which few people got rich. Over the years he had seen some serious injuries, but no one had been hurt yesterday.

''The ambulance boys did not get out of their car and there were no injuries to stock.'' Mr Darmody has been involved with the rodeo since it began in 1960 when organised by his father, James.

''We bring the orange and the green together,'' he said.

Each rodeo was the culmination of a year's work.

The rodeo was subject to a code of ethics.

Horses, bulls and steers were bred and trained for the purpose.