SAM CHAMP TO RIDE AT NARRANDERA

Photo by Dave Ethell 


MELDALE rider Sam Champ will make the trip to Narrandera in New South Wales on Saturday (February 21) in quest of more championship points in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Champ is currently second on APRA bull riding standings and needs prize money to stay in front of third-placed rider Carl Green from Walcha in New South Wales.

Bull ride standings leader Roy Dunn from Proserpine has twice as much money as his nearest rival so is set to win the pro tour title for the season which will end of April 30.

Champ lives at Meldale, a small community between Caboolture and Bribie Island.

There will be plenty of traffic from Queensland to Narrandera on Saturday with the cream of Queensland cowgirls heading south.

With a traffic jam at the top of APRA standings for cowgirls, most of the best in the nation will be at Narrandera.

Moree rider Wendy Caban heads the standings from Gracemere rider Jill Lyons and Warra roping star Jane Fay.

Two Victorians, Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent and Leslie Moore, make up the top five which are only split by $2500 in prize money.

With most of the rodeos in the final 10 weeks of the season in the southern states, Lyons and Fay will need to do a lot of travelling if they are to challenge for the all around pro tour buckle for most money won in the season.

While the top-five in the all around standings are assured of a spot in the national finals at the Warwick Australian Championships Rodeo on October 22-25, many riders need prize money in the final 10 weeks of the season to secure a top-15 spot and finals qualification.

The Millmerran Show Rodeo on February 28 will be the next Queensland Rodeo in the APRA. One to watch will be hometown hero John McNamee who is placed eighth in saddle bronc standings this season.

APRA Program: February rodeos: February 21 Narrandera (NSW); February 21 Whittlesea (Vic); February 21 Powrana Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas); February 28 Sale (Vic); February 28 Millmerran Show Rodeo.

March rodeos: March 6 Kyabram (Vic); March 7 Gowrie Park (Tas); March 7 Merrijig (Vic); March 8 Chiltern (Vic); March 14 Clare (SA); March 21 Comet (Qld).
 

More information or requests for photos to APRA head office on (07) 4661 8183.