Page 31 - The Outdoor Shoman JUL-SEP 2019

RODEO NEWS
Dynasaurs
They invaded Australian circuses in 2018- 19, starting with Silvers-Keith Brown at Silvers annual Christmas Spectacular at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne.
They all feature animatronics. They move heads and tails (or look out from huge Dino eggs), and roar like lions. It’s educational, too, with story boards guiding patrons along.
Silver’s did it again over December- January on Mornington Peninsula, and with Damien Syred at Warrnambool and Geelong, Victoria.
Damien got even better results in Adelaide’s Bonython Park, West Parklands, at the June holidays.
In Queensland, Burton’s feature them.
And all over the North winter show run, Lewis Gilmore, third son of Paul and Norah, had them at about 20 Ag shows
as paid attractions. Gilmore’s Circus operated at only a few shows this year, as they concentrated on pig races and animal nurseries. Other sons Zac and Zeb are on the grounds with joints and clowning. Infamous
Everyone’s jealous. They’ve been in North Queensland for winter, done turn-away business at Cairns, sold out at Townsville, and didn’t even have to buy a jumper!
Pepe Ashton mothballed Circus Joseph Ashton at their property at Beverley, WA, left Mervyn, Nikki and a couple of caretakers there, and headed east.
Excellent April-May business in Rockhampton (they moved out the day Burton’s moved onto a different lot) and Airlie Beach.
Jesse Grant cut his arm badly and was out for about five weeks. His part of the show is integral. He’s back now, with a lot of good wishes around the business. Circus Oz
Circus Oz opened a rare WA visit at Karratha, July 19, continuing to Mandurah and Perth.
Three horsemen lost
Bill Abraham, 65, well-known Texas campdraft competitor and judge, died after a hay-bale fell on him at Beebo, Texas-Yelarbon Road, Sunday, July 7.
John Brekelmans will have the Darling Downs Cutting and Futurity Class in Toowoomba named after him. The legendary Gracemere horse-breeder, cutting and campdraft competitor collapsed and died, Sunday, July 7.
Peter Gesler, 59, horse-stud owner from Greymare, Warwick, and stock- feed owner at Laidley, died at the controls of his plane, Saturday, July 6, in South Australia, along with passenger Rachel Whitford, 48.
He was an Australian Campdraft Association Councillor, and owner of top sire, Seligman Spin.
Sesame Street Circus Spectacular by Silvers
Sesame Street Circus Spectacular by Silvers opens in Melbourne on Thursday 11th September before touring other Cities and Regional Centres across Australia and New Zealand.
Featured in this 90-minute spectacular will be all your favourite Sesame Street characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert, Ernie, Super Grover and Big Bird.
In addition to the Sesame Street characters, the Circus will feature performances from Columbia, Argentina, Switzerland, Australia, Ethiopia, Brazil and Morocco.
This brand-new 90-minute production will perform in a spectacular new
tent, with a capacity of 1000, which was designed and developed in Italy especially for this tour and will offer everything from wind resistance to shading for guests during hot weather. ZIRK! Circus
Andrew Guild, one-time partner
of Michael Edgley, opened with a large group of Russian and overseas performers, at Sydney’s Moore Park in July, with later shows scheduled for Melbourne and Sydney.
Expensive site, and bridge suffered because Council doesn’t permit vans on-site. Big top previously used in Singapore and South Africa, impressive. Excellent business.
Program included the only Double Wheel of Death in Australia, with
synchronised acrobatics. Sasha Williams, son of Mark and Pearl (Belli) Williams, brings his world-class rola- bola back to Australia, after ten years in Europe.
Boasting some of the world’s most spectacular and death-defying acts, ZIRK! Circus – The Big Top Spectacular has arrived in Sydney pitching their brand new Big Top at The Showring, Moore Park, ahead of a national tour, later cancelled.
First double Wheel of Death on Australia, with Zirk, Sydney in July, Brisbane in August, Melbourne September-October, then Canberra.
Ashton’s
Photos from Ashton’s Circus at the Samford Show 13-14 July 2019
By John MacDonnell
Jules Bullen
The last of a legendary family of brothers, who ran Australia’s largest circus for three-quarters of a century, has died in Perth, aged 84.
Animal trainer-presenter, acrobat, all- round circus man Jules Bullen ended a long illness on August 29. He leaves widow Dot and three adult children.
Tributes flowed from all over Australasia at the packed September 3 funeral.
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 29