<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A historic solid silver and gold belt buckle a 94-year-old </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> rodeo rider won in the US in 1959 has been stolen.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cootamundra man Bob Holder won the buckle as a prize in the saddle bronc event at a rodeo in Sidney, Iowa, in 1959.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's believed to be the first time an Australian cowboy won a major award on the US rodeo circuit.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tayla-spies-missing-in-queensland-hilux-found-police-say/3871c2f7-a322-406d-a4a1-91fa4ff0bdfb" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Ute belonging to missing Queensland mum found</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The buckle is believed to have been stolen from a rural property near Cootamundra in 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Holder did not report the theft for 14 months, hoping the award would be returned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The belt buckle is described as being made of solid silver and gold, with gold inlets. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/prize-belt-buckle-stolen-from-94-year-old-rodeo-rider-bob-holder-cootamundra-cat/18c7eea5-766b-407d-8cfc-075dbf918fe9" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The top of the belt buckle reads "Sidney Iowa" and "1959" is inscribed on each side, with Holder's name at the bottom, and an image of a saddle bronc horse in the centre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are investigating, and Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside said he was hopeful the buckle might still be returned.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mma-event-allegedly-cancelled-police-fears-gangland-hit/cbe857af-df85-4c01-932e-89701a0d385a" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Former UFC fighter claims he wasn't warned of assassination plot</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are not ruling out that someone has innocently received the belt buckle and belt after it was stolen, unaware of its value and the historic significance and sentimental value to Mr Holder and it's place in the wider rodeo community," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are hopeful and – indeed encourage – rodeo enthusiasts and industry to spread the word in a concerted effort to get Mr Holder's prized possession back."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Holder, reportedly the world's oldest rodeo competitor, earned the nickname "the Cootamundra Cat" during his 78-year career, and has competed all over the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was inducted into the Australia Rodeo Heritage Centre Hall of Fame in October 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>