YEPPOON cowboy Errol Frain is set to challenge the leaders in Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings after scoring a narrow win in steer wrestling at the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo.

Frain won the Steer Wrestling Australian Title in 2006 and has now returned to the circuit with success in the richest rodeo in the nation.

He won the open steer wrestling at Mt Isa in 10.10 seconds over two head from past APRA all around champion and Alton Downs cowboy Shane Iker.

Ingham rider Cody Sheahan was third in 11.95.

The Cloncurry Rodeo is always the week before Mt Isa and two cowgirls, Jo Caldwell (Murrurundi) and Kelly Westlake (Scone), won their respective events at both rodeos.

Westlake won the breakaway roping at Cloncurry with a time of 2.5 seconds and then had a two-round combined time of 8.6 at Mt Isa.

Caldwell was timed at 17.46 to win the barrel racing at Cloncurry and then a combined time of 35.035 secured a win at Mt Isa.

In rough stock events at Mt Isa, Warwick rider Michael Maher made it back-to-back victories in the saddle bronc.

He won with 154 points, one ahead of fellow Darling Downs rider John McNamee who calls Millmerran home.

Allan Powell of Springsure and Warwick rider and first-round winner Mark Collins were equal third in the aggregate.

Darwin cowboy Mark Lamberth brought plenty of experience from competing in America to the bull ride and won with a score of 84.

Other open winners at Mt Isa were Heath Nichols (rope and tie), and Chris Cameron and Jace Land (team roping).

Russell Collins and Adam Purse won the over 55s team roping. The APRA now moves to the Northern Territory for two rodeos and then all eyes will be on the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships at the Warwick Showgrounds on October 22-25.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: August 15 Katherine (NT), August 22 Darwin (NT); September 12 Pussycat Flats Rodeo (NT); October 4 Marrabel (SA); October 10 Rockhampton (Qld); October 21 Hobart Show Bulls and Barrels (Tas); October 22-25 Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships (Qld).

Rodeo moves to Territory

NORTHERN Territory rider Darcy McBean will be one of the riders to beat in the Katherine Rodeo on Saturday. (August 15).

Katherine will be the second last Australian Professional Rodeo Association rodeo on the Northern Run with the last at Darwin on August 22.

McBean of Katherine won the open bull ride at Emerald at the start of the Northern Run but will be up against one of the toughest bull riders in the nation and the best bulls at Katherine on Saturday.

Beaudesert rider Fraser Babbington has the record for the highest bull ride score in the APRA and will make the trek to the Northern Territory along with Haden (Qld) cowboy Matt Boland who won a bull ride at the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre in Warwick last month.

Mt Isa bull ride winner Mark Lamberth hails from Darwin and is a likely starter in the August 22 rodeo in his homecity.

Some of the best timed event riders in the nation will travel to Katherine on Saturday, including Lockington (Victoria) couple Lee Kimber and Cherie O’Donoghue. She is the leading title winner in the APRA in cowgirl events.

Katherine Rodeo will commence at 6pm at the Katherine Showgrounds on Saturday, August 15th.