JUNIOR RODEO TO PREPARE FOR FINALS

 TOBY Hale and Blake Weier will be two of the riders to watch at the Australian Professional Rodeo Association Warwick Evandale Junior Rodeo on Saturday June 23.

The junior rodeo gives riders from south Queensland and interstate the chance to fine tune their form in the run up to the APRA Junior National Finals at Emerald on June 29-30.

Hale hails from Wakool in New South Wales and is in the junior steer ride, team roping and breakaway roping at the junior rodeo.

He won the steer ride title last year at Emerald so will be going for back-to-back national finals wins. His parents also compete on the rodeo circuit.

Weier hails from Warwick and is in three junior events, team roping, barrel race and breakaway roping at the Evandale Rodeo at Greymare, 30km west of Warwick, on Saturday.

He has qualified for team roping for the finals at Emerald but is in three events this weekend.

There are 17 nominations in the junior barrel race.

APRA office manager Karen Burraston is organising the rodeo.

“Great sponsorship from local businesses in Warwick has enabled us to hold the junior rodeo  at the Evandale property,” she said.

Property owners Rohan and Melissa Harland will be involved with running the rodeo.

Former APRA team roping heeler star Johnny Osborne and his wife Christie will also be involved in running the rodeo.

“We have received great support from the Harlands and Osbornes along with the parents of students involved in the Warwick High Schools’ Rodeo program.

The national junior finals at Emerald will be held over three rounds on June 29-30. An open rodeo will be held on June 30 at Emerald to support the finals.

The Emerald open rodeo will be the first on the Northern Run which ends  in August at Mt Isa.

Photo of Blake Weier by Dave Ethell 

Photo of Toby Hale by Stephen Mowbray Photography