BOWEN River Rodeo Queen Emma Deicke will perform her first official duty as Miss Rodeo Australia when she heads to the Wagga Wagga Rodeo on Saturday.
Ms Deicke was crowned at the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre after two days of judging in Warwick and will represent the Australian Professional Rodeo Association around the world in the next year.
Five Rodeo Queens took part in two days of Miss Rodeo Australia judging last weekend which included horsemanship judging at the Warwick Showgrounds.
Millmerran Rodeo Queen Tamara Evans was runner-up. Sophie Amos (Warwick, Qld), Kate Taylor (Cloncurry, Qld) and Isabelle Hare (Deniliquin, NSW) were great ambassadors for their rodeo committees during the quest.
Reigning Miss Rodeo Australia Katy Scott, Cloncurry, was in Warwick for the judging and presentations along with five past Miss Rodeo Australia winners who joined in celebrations to mark the 40th year since the first Miss Rodeo Australia was crowned.
Ms Deicke will travel to America and Canada as part of her prize but her major role will be promoting the sport in Australia starting with an APRA Rodeo at Wagga Wagga, NSW on Saturday.
There are 172 nominations at Wagga Wagga where all eight APRA championship events will be contested. There will second division and junior events as well as open competition.
Reigning All Around Champion Cowgirl in the APRA, Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic) will compete at Wagga Wagga. O’Donoghue is expected to have a close battle in the ladies events with 2015 All Around Champion Cowgirl Stephanie Gard.
A lot of the hometown interest will be on Wagga Wagga bull rider Sean Lynch who has drawn the bull Salt N Pepper from the string of John Gill at The Rock.
His toughest opposition will come from Young cowboy Ben Thorp who will ride High Flyer. Thorp was second with a score of 82 in round 2 of last year’s National Finals.
The Wagga rodeo is at the Equex Centre and will start from 5pm
APRA Rodeo Program:
February 4: Peterborough (SA) 30th rodeo
February 4: Wagga Wagga (NSW)
February 11: Ballarat (Vic)
February 11: Penrith Xtreme Bulls (NSW)
February 11: Ross (Tas)
February 18: Hay (NSW)
February 18: Lillico (Tas)
February 25: Narrandera (NSW)
February 25: Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas)
February 25: Xtreme Bulls Finals, Dubbo (NSW)
February 25: Whittlesea (Vic)