RODEOS at Bundaberg and Mt Hunter on Saturday, September 23, will be the last chance for riders to qualify for The Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals at the Warwick Showgrounds on October 26-29.
The top 15 in all eight championship events in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association will qualify for the national finals.
The Amber Ranch Bundaberg Rodeo in Queensland will be held for the second time on Saturday and is ideally placed to attract the best riders from Central and South Queensland.
It is a full championship points rodeo with all eight events on the program.
The K Ranch Timed Events Rodeo will be held on September 23 at Mt Hunter, NSW.
While the rodeo is restricted to timed events this year, it is likely to be extended to also include rough stock events next year.
Riders who have already secured a spot in the finals will be aiming to earn prize money on September 23 to boost the carryover points they take into the finals.
While the finals structure has been designed to allow any rider in the top 15 to win a title after the four national finals rounds in Warwick, the advantage is with the riders with the most prize money for the season.
There is less than $200 prize money between the 15th and 16th placegetters in most of the standings lists so there will be plenty of competition at Bundaberg and Mt Hunter in the two September 23 rodeos.
With one weekend of action to go in the current APRA season, Emerald (Qld) rider Shane Kenny and Murrurundi (NSW) cowgirl Jo Caldwell lead the pro tour standings.
Warwick rider Kobe Miller will be one to watch at Bundaberg after two placings in last weekend’s Warwick Junior Rodeo at the Warwick Showgrounds. He won the junior team roping heeler event and was second in breakaway roping. He needs a placing at Bundaberg to secure a spot in the team roping finals.
The Amber Ranch Rodeo at Bundaberg is at the Amber Ranch Horse Riding Centre, 123 Lakeview Drive, Alloway and will start at 10am on Saturday, September 23. Tickets at the gate.
The K Ranch Timed Events Rodeo at Mt Hunter (NSW) is at the K Ranch Arena 180 Monks Lane, Mount Hunter and will start at 9am on Saturday, September 23. Tickets at the gate.
Warwick Junior Rodeo winners: Steer ride Eliza Johnstone; team roping heeler Kobe Miller; breakaway roping Willem Boyce; barrel race Emily Rhodes; dummy roping Maddix Lovett.
Program:
September 23 – Amber Ranch Bundaberg Rodeo, Qld
September 23 – K Ranch Timed Events Rodeo, Mt Hunter, NSW
October 26-29 – The Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals and Warwick Second-Division and Junior Rodeo, Qld
