CABOOLTURE bull rider Sam Champ has boosted his prize money in Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings with a third in round 1 and fifth overall in the Jimna Bull Ride in the Brisbane Valley.

In late October, Champ was second in the APRA standings in the bull ride going into the Warwick Rodeo.

Relatively new to the circuit, Champ made a late charge for the top 15 last season before missing the National Finals Rodeo at Caboolture.

While half of the current season remains, second place after six months will almost assure Champ a spot in the 2015 finals.

Champ scored 75 points to be third in the round and fifth overall at Jimna behind Jason O’Hearn, of Rothbury in the Hunter Valley of NSW, who scored 85.5. None of the riders at Jimna recorded a score in both the first round and final.

He travelled to Marrabel in South Australia last month to win the bull ride. Champ scored 76 to be the only competitor to ride time.

Champ is behind APRA standings leader Roy Dunn from Proserpine in North Queensland who missed the chance to increase his lead when he bucked off at the Warwick Rodeo.

Dunn leads the rookie all around and bull ride standings in the APRA from Champ but both have the form to give them a chance to win open and rookie titles in the one year

Champ will have a lot less travelling than most bull riders when he heads to the Bundaberg Rodeo on November 28.

The biggest threat to Dunn and Champ at Bundaberg could be past APRA champion and current record holder Fraser Babbington, of Beaudesert, who was third overall at Jimna.

The Bundaberg event will be a championship points rodeo so some of the top riders in the nation are expected to fly in for what they hope is eight seconds of adrenalin rush, a place and prize money.

One of the riders to watch in the bareback bronc ride at Bundaberg will be Monto star Stuart Frame.

Frame is currently fourth in APRA standings and will be even tougher to beat now he is concentrating on the bareback after retiring from bull riding with one APRA title to his credit.

APRA Program: November 15 Kapunda (SA); November 28 Bundaberg (Qld); December 6 Rosewood (NSW); December 20 Grong Grong (NSW); December 26 Myrtleford (Vic); December 27 Carrieton (SA); December 30 Yarrawonga (Vic); January 1 Wangaratta (Vic) and Tumbarumba (NSW), January 2 Finley (NSW); January 3 Beechworth (Vic) and Deniliquin  (NSW).

More information APRA office 07 4661 8183