FRASER BABBINGTON

AFTER winning the bull riding title at the Jeep National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association, New Zealand cowboy Fraser Babbington has taken the early lead in the standings in the 2013-2014 season.

Babbington hails from Gisborne in New Zealand and has been based at Tamworth and in South East Queensland while competing at rodeos in Australia.

He was the only rider to make time on four bulls in the five-round NFR and won round 2 in mid-June at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Maldon, Victoria, rider Toby Collins won the first round of the bull ride at the NFR and is fifth in bull ride standings in the new season.

Collins heads the all-around standings ahead of fellow Victorian Gavin Walker and Warwick (Qld) cowboy Allan Flood.

In cowgirl events, Moree rider Wendy Caban is the early leader in the current season all around cowgirl standings after winning the 2013 Australian Barrel Racing Championship.

The 2012-2013 APRA season ended on April 30 when the top-15 for the NFR were determined.

The new season started in May with rodeos so far at St George, Beaudesert, Millmerran, Bundaberg, Bowen River, Gayndah and Maleny in Queensland and Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Competitors have the chance in the next two months to set themselves up for a top-15 finish and qualification for next year’s NFR when the Northern Run is held.

There are five rodeos on a run which is the second biggest in the rodeo year after the Christmas Run of rodeos in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

The first of the Northern Run Rodeos is on July 20 at Taroom and the last at Mt Isa on August 9-11.

Two of the cowboys keen to perform well at Taroom will be Cameron Webster and Dave Worsford from nearby Wandoan.

Webster won the pro tour in the saddle bronc ride last season and finished third in the aggregate at the NFR.

Worsford won rounds 3 and 5 in the bareback at the Gold Coast to finish second in the NFR aggregate behind title winner Matthew Makinson.

The fourth of five rodeos on the Northern Run will be the Cloncurry Merry Muster on August 2-3 when local hero Dean McIntyre will be in action.

McIntyre won round 2 of steer wrestling at the NFR.

Positions in the top-15 are determined on prize money which places a lot of importance on the Mt Isa Rodeo which is the richest on the APRA circuit.

PROGRAM: July 6 Pine Creek, NT; July 20 Taroom; July 26 Longreach; July 27 Richmond; August 2-3 Cloncurry Merry Muster, August 9-11 Mt Isa Rodeo.

More information from APRA office on 4661 8183.