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THE Kapunda Rodeo in South Australia on Saturday (November 12) will be the start of a busy two months of action in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

With the National Finals for the 2015-2016 season held at the Warwick Rodeo on the last weekend in October, all action will now centre on the 2016-2017 season and the battle for riders wanting to qualify in the top-15 for next October’s National Finals in Warwick.

There are 10 rodeos in the next two months in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, including six as part of the Christmas Run.

Thirty-one bull riders have nominated in open and second-division events in an arena set up at the Kapunda Harness Racing Club for the rodeo this Saturday. Rodeo action will kick-off from 5pm

One of the toughest events to win will be the open bareback ride where the winner could come from any of three states.

After winning two of the four rounds at the National Finals, Cameron’s Corner (Qld) rider Fred Osman will be the favourite.

He will face tough opposition from Tumbarumba (NSW) cowboy Ben Hall who had a third and fourth in the four bareback rounds at the Finals and Tom Willoughby who will carry many of the hopes of the home state.

Willoughby has called both South Australia and Northern Territory home for parts of his rodeo career.

He is one of the tough men of the sport who compete in two rough stock events.

In the bull ride, Willoughby’s toughest opposition will come from Sally Malay who moved from Western Australia to Victoria to follow a rodeo dream and now calls Queensland home.

There are 26 riders in the barrel race at Kapunda led by current APRA All Around Cowgirl Champion Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic) and the Gard sisters from Albury in New South Wales.

Stephanie Gard, 21, recorded placings in both the barrel race and breakaway roping at the National Finals while her younger sister Ellie, 13, had a third and fourth in the open barrel race at the National Finals to finish third in the average behind O’Donoghue-Kent.

Rodeo program:

November 12 – Kapunda (SA)

November 19 – Rouse Hill Xtreme Bulls (NSW)

December 3 – Leppington Xtreme Bulls (NSW)

December 17 – Rosewood (NSW)

December 26 – Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo (Vic)

December 30 – Carrieton (SA), Yarrawonga (Vic)

January 1 – Tumbarumba (NSW)

January 6 – Finley (NSW)

January 7 – Beechworth (Vic).

More information or requests for more photos - APRA head office 07 4661 8183

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