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Photo of John McNamee (Millmerran) by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au
Photo of Greg Hamilton (Mitchell) by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au
Millmerran and Mitchell riders at top of the saddle bronc standings going into this week’s APRA finals in Warwick
TWO Saddle Bronc riders from Millmerran are in the top-three in Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings going into The Carlton Dry Warwick Rodeo National Finals starting Thursday at the Warwick Showgrounds.
The top-15 in all eight APRA championship events will contest finals rounds at 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and from 2pm Sunday at the Warwick Showgrounds. (Oct 27-30)
Each rider will take some carryover points from the pro tour into the Finals but the format is designed so even the 15th placed competitor from the pro tour can win the title at Warwick.
The National Finals were moved to the Warwick Rodeo for the first time in three decades last year when each of the best performers at the Finals also won the titles.
John McNamee from Millmerran goes into the finals with the No.1 ranking, Greg Hamilton from Mitchell is ranked No.2 and Millmerran rider Peter Moffatt is in third spot.
Twelve of the 15 finalists are from Queensland, including four from Warwick and two from Cloncurry.
At age 21, McNamee is in his second Finals while Hamilton will be going for the APRA Saddle Bronc title for an eighth time. Moffatt will compete in his seventh National Finals Rodeo.
While the top three have a start on the rest, two of the favourites will be sixth-ranked Michael Maher from Warwick who has won the Saddle Bronc at the past three Mt Isa Rodeos.
Last year’s Saddle Bronc winner Brad Pierce will travel from Tooma in New South Wales and will be one of the favourites in both Saddle Bronc and Bull Ride.
Pierce is the only rough stock rider in two events and is a chance to win the All Around Title.
Tamworth rider Jason O’Hearn is on top of the standings in the Bull Ride and Ben Hall from Tumbarumba (NSW) the leader in the Bareback.
In cowgirl events, the highest placed Queenslanders are Jorja Iker (Alton Downs), fourth in Breakaway Roping, and Suzie Fearon (Townsville) fifth in Barrel Racing. There will be second division and junior events in conjunction with the National Finals at the Warwick Showgrounds starting Thursday.
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