Rodeos at Alton Downs (Qld), Tumbarumba (NSW) and Yarrawonga (Vic) on New Year Weekend.

MANY sports take a break around Christmas but not rodeo, the action just hots up in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

There are nine rodeos in five states between Boxing Day and January 9 and action will be in three states on the New Year Weekend

The first of the action will be at Alton Downs, just west of Rockhampton in Queensland, when the first full rodeo is held at the Lazy Acres property.

The Alton Downs Double-Dip will be split into two separate rodeos with 260 nominations for each of the night rodeos on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Warwick cowboy Michael Maher heads the saddle bronc standings and will need to place at Alton Downs as he hasn’t nominated for the early rodeos on the Christmas Run in the southern states. A rider who wins money consistently in the seven Christmas Run Rodeos could overtake Maher for the standings lead.

The 71^st rodeo at Tumbarumba (NSW) will be from 2pm on New Year’s Day and has attracted 238 nominations for a program which includes three rough stock events, three roping events, steer wrestling and the barrel race.

Local hero Ben Hall will be the crowd favourite at Tumbarumba as he goes for championship points and prize money in both the bull ride and bareback bronc ride.

Many of the competitors who compete at Tumbarumba will go on to Yarrawonga in Victoria for a January 2 rodeo which has attracted 169 nominations.

Victorian bull rider Bryden Atkins from Docher will be one to watch at Yarrawonga along with Victorian timed event stars Terry Evison and Lee Kimber,

Kimber hails from Lockington and will be determined to do well after missing out on a title win at the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships on the last weekend in October.

Many of the standings leaders in APRA will compete on the New Year weekend, including all around cowboy leader Shane Iker who has nominated in his hometown rodeo at Alton Downs in Queensland.

PROGRAM:December 31-January 1 – Alton Downs Double Dip (Qld); January 1 – Tumbarumba 71^st Rodeo (NSW); January 2 – Yarrawonga (Vic); January 8 – Finley (NSW); January 9 – Beechworth (Vic) and Carrick Bull Ride and Rodeo Spectacular (Tas).

STANDINGS LEADERS: All around cowboy - Shane Iker (Alton Downs, Qld); saddle bronc - Michael Maher (Warwick, Qld); bull ride -Mark Lamberth (Alice Springs, NT); bareback - Jack Kidd (Croydon, Qld); rope and tie Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld); steer wrestling - Errol Frain (Yeppoon, Qld), team roping header - Clancy Middleton (Hughenden, Qld), team roping heeler Chris Cameron (Kirwan, Qld), all around cowgirl Wendy Caban (Moree, NSW), barrel race Jo Caldwell (Murrurindi, NSW), breakaway roping Kelly Eastlake (Scone, NSW).

More information APRA 07 46618183