CABOOLTURE rider Lachlan O’Neill has won the steer wrestling at the Millmerran Show Rodeo.
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O’Neill is the current steer wrestling standings leader in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association with the last one third of the season to go. He leads from Scone (NSW) cowboy Heath Nichols.
While a number of competitors from NSW competed at Millmerran, seven of the open eight events for APRA Championship Points were won by riders from Queensland.
The only NSW winner was barrel racer Wendy Caban from Moree.
Charters Towers rider Darcy Kersh made a long trip south worthwhile with wins in the rope and tie and team roping. He combined in team roping with Alton Downs rider Shane Iker.
Darling Downs riders won all three rough stock events.
Michael Maher (Warwick) was first in saddle bronc, Jack McArthur (Cooyar) won the bull ride and Tara cowboy Dinny Moran was the bareback bronc ride winner at Millmerran.
Teal Ayers from Roma had a win in breakaway roping and is challenging for a top-five spot in the standings.
Rodeo organiser Henry Wolski was happy with the crowd especially considering the weather.
“We had 8mm rain during the rodeo,” he said.
“The lights did flick out for a second during the night after which we waited 15 minutes for the flood lights to heat up again but everything went well.”
The Millmerran Rodeo was a chance for many riders from Queensland and New South Wales to fine tune their form for three rodeos in Victoria this weekend.
There are rodeos at Kyabram, Merrijig and Chiltern on three successive nights from Friday to Sunday as Victorians enjoy a long weekend.
Overall, there are more than 1000 total nominations for the three rodeos. Two to watch in saddle bronc are Maher and current APRA standings leader John McNamee who was unplaced at his hometown rodeo at Millmerran but is one cowboy with plenty of past success in Victoria.
The next Queensland rodeo is at Kooralbyn on March 18 and then there is a Destiny Downs Timed Event Fiesta Rodeo at Emerald on April 14, a Good Friday Bull Ride at Roma on April 14, Emerald Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo on April 15 and the Roma Rodeo with action in all eight APRA championship events on April 16.
Rodeos are planned at Gargett on April 22, Nebo on May 13, Biloela on May 20 and Comet on May 27.
