FORMER Tamworth rider Fraser Babbington will start favourite for the open bull ride in the last rodeo on this year’s Northern Run in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Babbington has the record for the highest bull riding score in the APRA. He is originally from New Zealand, lived at Tamworth when he rose through the ranks of the APRA and is now based in Brisbane in Queensland.

Mark Lamberth and Darcy McBean will be two of the Northern Territory bull riders to watch at Darwin.

Lamberth won the richest rodeo in Australia this month at Mt Isa when he scored 84 in the first round at a rodeo when no riders made time in the final. Lamberth also won the aggregate.

Northern Territory rider Darcy McBean won the open bull ride at Emerald early on the APRA Northern Run.

The Darwin Rodeo has attracted 190 nominations, including 22 in the open bull ride and 25 in the second-division event.

Victorian star Bryden Atkins, of Docher, is another strong chance to win the bull ride in Darwin.

Two of the New South Wales riders competing in Darwin are the Gard siblings, Stephanie and Benjamin.

Stephanie is the reigning champion in the APRA in breakaway roping but will face tough opposition at Darwin from Victorian rider Cherie O’Donoghue, the cowgirl with the most titles in APRA history.

More tough opposition will come from Cherie’s niece Shianne ODonoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic) and Queensland rider Tenielle Middleton from Hughenden.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: 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)..

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183