NARRANDERA, WHITTLESEA AND POWRANNA

Photos by Dave Ethell

WITH only 10 weeks of the current season remaining, Australian Professional Rodeo Association competitors will be out in force at rodeos in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania on Saturday. (February 21)

Rodeos will be held at Narrandera (NSW), Whittlesea (Vic) and Powranna (Tas) as riders chase points in quest of a top-15 spot and qualification for the national finals at the Warwick Australian Championships Rodeo.

Pro tour buckles will be also up for grabs for the most money won in the current season.

The Narrandera Rodeo has attracted the cream of riders from New South Wales and some Queensland stars, including saddle bronc standings leader Michael Maher, of Warwick.

Tooma (NSW) cowboy Brad Pierce has nominated for saddle bronc at Narrandera but will not contest his second event, the bull ride.

The top two cowgirls in the APRA, Nichole Fitzpatrick (Willow Tree, NSW) and Wendy Caban (Moree, NSW) will both compete at Narrandera.

Fitzpatrick won the all around cowgirl title in the APRA last season and Caban is the pro tour leader this season.

The Whittlesea Rodeo in Victoria has attracted strong nominations with Gippsland cowboy Lee Bowker one to watch in saddle bronc and bareback. Bowker is originally from far north Queensland but now calls Heyfield in Victoria home.

The O’Donoghue-Kent sisters, Shianne and Montana, are two of the strong chances in a field of 24 in the barrel race.

Lachlan Waters, of Two Wells, in South Australia, will go into the two bulls rides with plenty of confidence after finishing equal second with a score of 85 in the Peterborough Rodeo in his home state.

Jodie and Casey Green will be two of the locals competing at Whittlesea.

The first three months of the year are a busy time for APRA members in Tasmania and this Saturday, there will be a bull ride and rodeo at Powranna.

Two of the riders to watch at Powranna will be Luke Hamilton and Gary King who have both showed outstanding form in the first two months of the year.

Hamilton only has to continue his strong form to qualify for the Warwick Australian Championships Rodeo on October 22-25.

 

Weekend rodeo venues and times

Narrandera (NSW), Narrandera Rodeo Grounds, Saturday, 6.30pm

Whittlesea, Whittlesea Showgrounds, Saturday 6pm

Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo, Powranna Rd, Powranna, Saturday 6pm

 

APRA Program: February rodeos: February 21 Narrandera (NSW); February 21 Whittlesea (Vic); February 21 Powranna 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; March 21 Comet (Qld).