BUCKING stock from three of the leading contractors in Australia will be used for the Warwick Rodeo on October 28-31.
Earlier this month, the Australian Professional Rodeo Association postponed this year's national finals as more than half the qualifiers were from NSW and Victoria and there was no guarantee they would be able to cross the border into Queensland due to COVID-19 restrictions.
With Queensland riders free to come to Warwick for the most famous rodeo in Australia, the APRA will be in town for a championship points rodeo in October rather than the finals.
Gill Brothers will supply all the open bucking bulls and some of the horses along with Garry McPhee. Both contractors had stock at rodeos on the Northern Run in Queensland.
Shane and Leanne Kenny, Emerald, will contract the timed event stock at the Warwick Rodeo.
Warwick Show and Rodeo Society rodeo chairman Terry Keogh has just been elected to the role and said the rodeo would start on the Thursday night and remain a four-day rodeo which had been the case since the national finals were moved to Warwick.
"We will have our first rodeo action on the Thursday night and then have night programs to 9pm on Friday and Saturday," he said.
Daytime rodeo action will be on the Saturday and Sunday in conjunction with campdrafting action at the Warwick Showgrounds.
"We will still get plenty of nominations for the rodeo events," Keogh said.
As well as the eight open events, there will be second-division bull and saddle bronc rides, a junior steer ride and local junior and open barrel races.
Some of the Warwick riders likely to compete are Jeff and Shellie Miller in the timed events.
In the past two years, the Eastwell brothers from Warwick, Mitch and Brock, were two of the stars of the national finals in rope and tie.
Their brother Wade has also competed in the rope and tie on the APRA circuit.
Warwick bull rider Callum Miller is unlikely to compete at his hometown rodeo as he is enjoying outstanding success on the professional circuit in Canada.
Tooma (NSW) rider Brad Pierce has previously won the saddle bronc in Warwick and is a likely starter if allowed to head north into Queensland in late October.
Emerald cowgirl Ellysa Kenny won two of the past three all around titles at the national final in October in Warwick and will be hard to beat again.
David Worsfold will travel from Wandoan to compete in the bareback bronc ride only five days after competing in his hometown rodeo.
Wandoan is one of four new APRA rodeos in Queensland this year and is set to be well supported as riders try to fine tune their form for Warwick.
Keogh said volunteers were preparing to put up the arena fence on the eastern side of the Warwick Showgrounds which will reduce the size of the main arena to half the size used for show action.
"We have put some more sand on the arena so it will be in excellent condition for the rodeo," he said.
For the first time, former Warwick cowboy Michael Maher will judge rough stock events at his hometown rodeo.
Maher is the only saddle bronc rider to win the event at three successive Mt Isa rodeos.
