FOUR of the final five rodeos in the current Australian Professional Rodeo Association season will be held in Central Queensland over the next three weeks.
This Friday, a rodeo will be held at Springsure and then the next weekend, there is the Delrosa Timed Event Rodeo at Alton Downs on August 31 and the St Brendan’s College Rodeo at Yeppoon on September 1
The last two rodeos in the current season are on September 8 at both Comet in Central Queensland and K Ranch at Mt Hunter in NSW.
Emerald rider Shane Kenny has led the all around cowboy standings in recent months but has only been competing in team roping of late which has allowed Yass, NSW, cowboy Clay Bush to make up ground.
With the pro tour all around cowboys title still up for grabs, Bush may head to some of the Queensland rodeos late in the season.
While he didn’t win an individual event at Mt Isa, Bush recorded enough prize money to win the all around title at the Mt Isa Rodeo.
Kenny’s greatest threat to a pro tour all around title will come from Bush and Emerald rider Campbell Hodson who won the team roping at Mt Isa in combination with North Queensland cowboy Liam Davison.
Victorian rider Terry Evison is fourth in the standings and has rarely been out of the top-five in recent years.
Evison competes in the rope and tie, steer wrestling and in his best event, team roping. Evison and fellow Victorian cowboy Aaron Bookluck are past national title winners in team roping.
In cowgirl events, Victorian riders Elley Hulls and Julie Breed led the all around standings at the start of the Northern Run.
The two Mt Isa winners, barrel racer Wendy Caban and breakaway roper Cherie O’Donoghue have boosted their position in the all around cowgirl standings.
Caban comes from Moree in New South Wales and is likely to compete in at least some of the Central Queensland rodeos late in the season.
Amanda Tielan won the all around cowgirl title at the Mt Isa Rodeo and is hitting form at the right time in the season.
It is likely the final five rodeos in the APRA season will be well supported as riders push to earn a spot in the top-15 or just maintain their position.
The top-15 in all APRA open events as at September 30 will qualify for the national finals in Warwick.
In the past, three rounds of the finals were under lights and one on the Sunday afternoon. This year, the four rounds at the Warwick Showgrounds will be on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, October 24-27.
A four-day second division and junior rodeo in Warwick will finish on the Sunday afternoon.
Upcoming Events
August 24 – Springsure Rodeo, QLD
August 31 – Delrosa Timed Event Rodeo, QLD
September 1 – St Brendan’s College Yeppoon Rodeo, QLD
September 8 – Comet Benefit Rodeo, QLD
September 8 – K Ranch Rodeo, NSW