ERROL Frain, Michael Maher, Shane Kenny, Clancy Middleton and Jack Kidd are the five Queenslanders at the top of standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
Frain from Yeppoon leads the all around cowboy and steer wrestling standings while Shane Kenny from Emerald is on top in the rope and tie to give Central Queensland two riders at the top of the standings. Frain travelled to Peterborough in South Australia last weekend for a third in steer wrestling.
Hughenden rider Clancy Middleton is first in team roping header standings.
Croydon cowboy Jack Kidd is on top of the bareback bronc riding standings from Tumbarumba (NSW) rider Ben Hall.
Warwick saddle bronc rider Michael Maher is first in saddle bronc from John McNamee of Millmerran and Warwick rider Mark Collins.
All three are among the favourites for the saddle bronc at the Millmerran Show Rodeo on February 27, the first APRA rodeo in Queensland since Alton Downs over the New Year’s weekend.
Timed events will be in the larger showgrounds arena during the afternoon at Millmerran before rough stock action starts in a smaller arena in the evening.
Rodeo action will hot up in Queensland in the next two months, including Easter weekend rodeos at Roma and Emerald.
In cowgirls standings, Victorian star Cherie O’Donoghue is the leader from her niece Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent, Moree rider Wendy Caban and Townsville cowgirl Suzie Fearon.
This month, the APRA has up to four rodeos a weekend across Australia.
There are 229 nominations for the Ballarat Rodeo on Saturday (Feb 13) and 98 on the same day at Ross in Tasmania
EVENT LEADERS: All around cowboy – Errol Frain (Yeppoon, Qld)
Saddle bronc – Michael Maher (Warwick, Qld)
Bull ride – Darcy McBean (Katherine, NT)
Bareback – Jack Kidd (Croydon, Qld)
Rope and Tie – Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld)
Steer Wrestling – Errol Frain (Yeppoon, Qld)
Team Roping Header – Clancy Middleton (Hughenden, Qld)
Team Roping Heeler – Aaron Bookluck (Nilma North, Vic)
All around cowgirl – Cherie O’Donoghue (Lockington, Vic)
Barrel racing – Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip Vic)
Breakaway Roping – Kelly Westlake (Scone, NSW)
RODEO PROGRAM: February 13 Ballarat (Vic), Ross (Tas); February 20 Hay Twilight Rodeo (NSW), Lillico (Tas), XXXX Gold Xtreme Bulls Dubbo (NSW); February 27 Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld), Narrandera (NSW), Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas), Whittlesea (Vic).
