ATOP his steed, experienced horseman Daryn McKendry rode into the arena at Merriwa showground on Saturday just like he had done countless times in countless towns over more than four decades.
But within minutes, a tragic series of events coincided to take the much-loved and highly-skilled Belford man away, shattering his loving family and sending the horsing community into mourning.
Mr McKendry was at Merriwa to compete in the campdrafting section – a highly-skilled competition where the horse and rider work cattle before cutting one out of the herd and stop it from rejoining.
But his horse was struck by a beast and fell, before rolling on top of Mr McKendry and lashing out as it got back to its feet.
A hoof made contact with Mr McKendry’s head, and despite the best work of paramedics at the scene and doctors at John Hunter Hospital, the 58-year-old died on Saturday afternoon.
‘‘If he couldn’t do you a good turn he wouldn't do you a bad one,’’ lifelong friend Billy Jones said.
‘‘He was small in stature but had a big heart.
‘‘It is a risk you take every time you leave home, really.
‘‘I have probably had as many falls and broken bones as the next bloke, but I have never been badly injured. And Daryn knew that, you just can’t guard against what has happened.
‘‘It is a terrible, terrible tragedy and all of our thoughts and prayers go to his family.’’
In fact, Mr McKendry had got back into the rodeos as his children grew up, returning to the sport which he had taken up as a teenager living at Bellbird, near Cessnock.
Working in the coal industry, Mr McKendry had lived on his Belford property with his long-term partner Lorraine Menser for years.
Mr Jones said his mate had become very adept at campdrafting and was known for his competitive nature.
‘‘He was very solid, not an out-and-out champion but you always knew who you were competing against when Daryn was around,’’ Mr Jones said.
‘‘He was just a terrific bloke.’’
Mr McKendry was also a well-known volunteer for rodeo and campdrafting events, even helping out at the national campdrafting championships at Tamworth, Australian Bushmen’s Campdrafting and Rodeo Association executive officer Hunter Jones said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Australia Bushmen’s Campdrafting Rodeo Association executive officer Hunter Jones said witnesses had been interviewed, including an orthopaedic surgeon who was at the rodeo.
‘‘In cases such as this there are also official investigations conducted and the Merriwa Committee and ABCRA will be cooperating to the fullest,’’ Mr Jones said.
‘‘ABCRA sanctions a significant number of campdraft events annually which comprise in excess of 60,000 individual competitor runs and this kind of accident is extremely rare in the sport.’’
