EASTER RODEOS IN VICTORIA

Photo of Adam Hinkley by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

Photo of Darcy McBean by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

Easter rodeos in Victoria at Great Western, Omeo, Buchan and Lang Lang.

ALL roads will lead to 10 rodeos in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales over the Easter long weekend.

The 10 rodeos have attracted a total of 1800 nominations in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

The most nominations in an individual event in Victoria at Easter are 37 in the ladies barrel race at Great Western Rodeo.

There are 19 nominations for the bull ride at  Omeo Rodeo and Colac rider Adam Hinkley  will be one of the favourites but will expect strong competition from Darcy McBean of Katherine (NT)

APRA competitors have four chances to win win prize money in Victoria at Easter with the Great Western Rodeo on Good Friday followed by Omeo on the Saturday, Buchan on Easter Sunday and Lang Lang on the Monday.

Most of the competitors in the APRA will compete in between two and four rodeos at Easter as they try to win prize money and more importantly boost their chances of qualification for The Warwick Rodeo National Finals in late October.

The top 15 in all eight APRA championship events to April 30 will compete in the national finals and after the Easter weekend, there will be only four rodeos left in the season.

Distance never stops a keen APRA member and it is expected some will travel from state to state in quest of the most possible prize money at Easter. The top 15 is determined by money won during the season.

After competing at Roma on Easter Sunday, some Queensland riders are certain to head to Lang Lang in Victoria on Easter Monday for their last chance to win prize money this month.

Nine of the top riders competing across the nation this weekend will be the current standings leaders. The major prize in the APRA each year is a title buckle at the national finals and the current standings leaders can boost their title chances even further with placings over the long weekend.

The more prize money earnt in the season, the more carryover points each rider takes into the national finals.

Great Western rodeo will start at 3:00pm at the Great Western Recreation Reserve on 25th March.

Omeo Rodeo is held at the Omeo Rodeo Grounds on 26th March and will start at 10:00am.

Buchan Rodeo will be on the 27th March from 10:00am at 2063 Bruthen-Road Buchan South.

Lang Lang Rodeo will start at 10:30am at the Lang Lang Showgrounds on 28th March.

STANDINGS LEADERS: All around cowboy Errol Frain (Yeppoon, Qld), saddle bronc John McNamee (Millmerran, Qld), bull ride Darcy McBean (Katherine, NT), bareback Ben Hall (Tumbarumba, NSW), rope and tie Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld), steer wrestling Errol Frain (Yeppoon, Qld), team roping header Clancy Middleton (Hughenden, Qld), team roping heeler Aaron Bookluck (Nilma North, VIC), all around cowgirl Cherie O’Donoghue (Lockington, Vic), Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic), Elley Hulls (Leongatha, Vic)

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: March 25 Destiny Downs Good Friday Fiesta at Emerald (Qld), Roma Easter in the Country Bullride (Qld), Great Western (Vic); March 26 Emerald Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo (Qld), Omeo (Vic), Deniliquin Under The Stars Rodeo (NSW); March 27 Roma (Qld), Buchan (Vic), Tocumwal (NSW); March 28 Lang Lang (Vic); April 2 Corryong (Vic); April 22 Moree Show Rodeo (NSW); April 24 Ettamogah Pub, Albury (NSW); April 29 Narrabri Show Rodeo (NSW).

More information APRA 07 4661 8183