WHO WILL BE THE CHAMPION?

Attached is a photo of Shane Iker | www.dephotos.com.au

GOING on form in the first two months of the new Australian Professional Rodeo Association season, the odds are a rider from Central Queensland will be in the money in the rope and tie at each of the four Queensland rodeos on the Northern Run.

In one of the early rodeos in the new APRA season, Alton Downs rider Shane Iker won the rope and tie in the Bowen River Rodeo at Collinsville on the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

He was followed in the placings at Collinsville by Emerald riders, Shane Kenny and Grant Hanrahan.

Kenny won the rope and tie at the first Queensland rodeo for the season at Nebo.

Iker and Kenny have had many close battles for all around titles at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and for pro tour titles for most money won in a season.

Last season, Kenny won the pro tour and then Iker was the all around champion at the finals at Caboolture.

APRA members are now having a break from competition before the start of the Northern Run at Taroom on July 19.

There will be plenty of competition in timed events on the Northern Run between Kenny and Iker along with Emerald rider Clancy Middleton who won the steer wrestling at Bundaberg in late May.

 Iker joined with Liam Davison to win the team roping at Bundaberg.

The Taroom Rodeo is expected to attract some of the best rough stock riders in the nation on July 19, a rodeo where all eight APRA championship events will be contested.

Wandoan cowboy David Worsfold is one of the best in the business in the bareback bronc ride and will have plenty of confidence at Taroom, the closest APRA rodeo to his hometown. He started the new season with an equal second at Bundaberg and was second at Bowen River, both placings behind Jamie Howlett, of Roma, who won both rodeos with a score of 81.

Cameron Webster won last season’s pro tour title in saddle bronc but missed the NFR with a leg injury and will be hoping to be fit for Taroom.

Winners Bowen River Rodeo

Saddle bronc John Turvey 77 points

Bull ride Jackson Gill 83

Bareback Jamie Howlett 81

Rope and tie Shane Iker 9.35 seconds

Steer wrestling Mark Gibb 4.6

Team roping Jordan Austin-Iker and Brenton Bell 5.4

Barrel race Jamie-Lee Williams 17.395

Breakaway roping Jorja Watkins 2.7

Rodeo Program: July 19 Taroom; July 26 Richmond; August 1-2 Cloncurry; August 8-10 Mt Isa; August 15 Daly Waters (NT), August 16 Katherine (NT); August 23 Darwin (NT).

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183