CABOOLTURE brothers Lachlan and Jordan O’Neill have boosted their chances of qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in their home community with strong performances in the first six weeks of the year.
At the start of January, Lachlan was fifth in Australian Professional Rodeo Association steer wrestling standings and Jordan 15th in the battle for spots in the NFR at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre at Caboolture on May 1-4.
Six weeks later, Lachlan has moved into second place behind Alton Downs rider Shane Iker and is almost assured of qualification for the NFR which will be contested by the top 15 in each of the eight APRA championship events.
With 22 rodeos to go in the season to April 30, Jordan has moved up to ninth and only needs some minor placings late in the season to be assured of a spot in the finals.
Competitors keen to boost their position in the standings will need to travel to Victoria to compete as 12 of the rodeos in the rest of the season are down south.
Three of the key rodeos are on the Victorian long weekend at Kyabram on March 7, Merrijig on March 8 and Chiltern on March 9.
Queensland rodeo committees are organising five rodeos late in the season, the Millmerran Show Rodeo on March 1, the Comet Benefit Rodeo on April 5, Emerald Rodeo on April 19 and two events at Roma, a bull ride on April 18 and a full rodeo program on April 20 over the Easter weekend.
Lachlan O’Neill, 24, won’t be fazed by the pressure of competing at the first NFR to be held at Caboolture.
He qualified eighth last year for the NFR, his third appearance at the premier event in the APRA.
There will be five rounds of competition on the four days of the NFR. The biggest day will be the Saturday when there will be matinee and evening performances.
This year’s finals are sudden death which means Jordan O’Neill can qualify in the bottom half of the top 15 and have an equal chance with the leader to win the title.
Every rider starts with zero points in the NFR, regardless of their position in the standings.
Lachlan has the added incentive to travel south for many of the interstate rodeos as the APRA steer wrestling pro tour title is up for grabs for most money won in the season. He has some ground to make up on Iker and will definitely need to travel to the Easter weekend rodeos in Queensland.
Rachelle Carlo, 22, of Delaney’s Creek, near Caboolture, is 11th in the standings in breakaway roping and needs more prize money in the rest of the season to be sure of qualification.
She qualified for the NFR for the first time in fifth place last year.
