1.
GV PAN Festival ground
0.08

2.
LV Horses being rounded up (2 shots)
0.19

3.
SV Putting them in enclosure and fitting bridles
0.30

4.
SV Crowd watching
0.32

5.
LV Horse being released and pursued by riders
0.40

6.
SV Crowd watching
0.43

7.
SV Horse struggling
0.50

8.
CU Gauchos watching (2 shots)
0.56

9.
SV Horse being tied to pole
1.04

10.
CU Women watching
1.07

11.
LV Man rides bucking steed and jumping
1.20

12.
CU PAN Gaucho
1.23

13.
CU Boot and spurs of next rider
1.26

14.
SV Rider on horse and eventually thrown
1.44

15.
SV SLOW MOTION Another rider being thrown
1.58

16.
GV Crowd watching
2.00



Initials BB/0302 JT/PN/BB/0319



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Over every Easter since 1950 a "Gaucho Week" has been held in Montevideo, Uruguay. The gauchos come from the big ranches of Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay or Brazil, to show off their skill at riding wild horses. At the end of the week a champion is chosen.

It is very different from an American rodeo, because the gauchos combine to master a horse. First two bring the horse out and tie it to a pole. Then they help a third to mount it. He has to stay on his rampaging steed for three minutes to win the event.

The immensely exciting spectacle is watched by about a quarter of a million people in the course of the week.

SYNOPSIS: Other gauchos gather round the edge of the arena, to watch at close-quarters.

Then the horse is tied to one of two posts. The gauchos have to settle it so that their colleague can mount.

Some quarter of a million people came to enjoy the spectacle this year.

A gaucho has to stay mounted for three minutes to be declared a victor. They are all professional horsemen from large ranches or estancia, but no one finds it easy to stay on horses such as these.

While one rider hangs on, another one prepares for the fray.

More often than not the rider is thrown before the three minutes are up. At the end of the week the most successful rider is declared champion of champions.

The controlled violence of the spectacle will never cease to enthral the people of Latin America. And it takes the slow motion camera to capture the movement -- and uncontrolled violence.