EMERALD cowgirl Ellysa Kenny is set to do battle with the best in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association during the Christmas run of eight rodeos in three states.
The Christmas Run starts with the 64th Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo in north east Victoria on December 26.
Kenny won this year’s all around title in the APRA at age 15 and will do battle with the past two champions, Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent and Stephanie Gard, during two weeks of rodeo action.
O’Donoghue-Kent from Bunyip in Victoria was the 2016 winner and Table Top (NSW) rider Stephanie Gard won the all around cowgirl title in 2015.
All three are strong in barrel racing and breakaway roping. O’Donoghue-Kent won the barrel race at the Kapunda Rodeo in South Australia last month.
While many competitors from Queensland will compete in some or all of the rodeos on the Christmas Run, strong support is also expected for a New Year’s Eve Rodeo at Mitchell in the Maranoa region of Queensland.
The Mitchell Rodeo on December 31 is a new event on the APRA program.
Competitors from all eastern states and South Australia will be aiming to secure placings and championships points during the Christmas Run.
The new APRA season started on October 1 and the top-15 riders in each event will qualify for the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals in late October next year.
After the Myrtleford Rodeo on Boxing Day, competitors will head to Yarrawonga in Victoria on December 29 and then Carrieton in South Australia or Young in New South Wales on December 30.
The Christmas Run of rodeos will continue at Tumbarumba on January 1, the Sweetwater Timed Events Rodeo is at Tullakool (NSW) is on January 3 and then the Finley Rodeo on January 5.
A new rodeo on the Christmas Run is at K Ranch Rodeo at Mt Hunter (NSW) on January 6.
