THE BEST OF THE BEST IN COWGIRL EVENTS

 THE best of the best in cowgirl events in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association is back at the top of the standings in the new season.

Moree rider Wendy Caban leads the all around cowgirl standings after winning the title in the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at the Gold Coast in 2012.

This year, she won the barrel racing title with wins in four of the five rounds and a second in round 4 at the NFR.

She didn’t qualify in the top 15 for breakaway roping for the 2013 NFR but is in sixth place in the new season which started on May 1 and odds on to qualify for both cowgirl events for the 2014 NFR.

Wendy is 10th in early season barrel racing standings, one spot behind Gunnedah rider Teneille Clifford.

Two of the top three in early season team roping header standings hail from Northern New South Wales.

Wendy’s husband Troy Caban is second in team roping header standings one spot in front of Tamworth rider Phillipa Leys.

In team roping heeler standings, Phillipa’s husband Greg Leys in second in early season standings. Narrabri rider Peter Swain is ninth.

Taroom cowboy James McGuire-Spalding has the chance to take the lead in APRA rope and tie standings with a strong showing in his hometown rodeo on July 20.

The grandson of legendary rough stock and timed event star Jim McGuire, James is currently second in the open standings in the rope and tie.

He trails Emerald rider Grant Hanrahan and is in front of Toowoomba star Adam Purse.

James and his brother Stuart have enjoyed plenty of success on the APRA junior circuit and will be two of the riders to beat at Taroom.

Stuart won the steer riding title at the Junior National Finals Rodeo in May at Beaudesert after finishing fourth in open rope and tie standings in the 2013 season.

Alton Downs rider Shane Iker is sixth in the rope and tie and second in all around cowboy standings and has the chance to take the lead in the all around at Taroom as leader Toby Collins, of Maldon, Victoria, has flown to America to try his luck in the saddle bronc and bull rides on the toughest circuit in the world.

The McGuire-Spalding brothers won’t be the only cowboys from the Western Downs in action at Taroom.

Wandoan saddle bronc rider Cameron Webster and Miles bareback bronc riding star Clint Burton are two likely starters at Taroom.

Webster recorded a second and fourth in last month’s Jeep National Finals Rodeo at the Gold Coast and is the early season leader in saddle bronc standings.

Burton was fourth in one round of the bareback at the NFR and is currently fourth in standings.

The 2014 APRA season started on May 1 this year and will end on April 30 next year.

The top-15 at April 30 will qualify for the 2014 NFR.

Competitors from all states will use the Northern Run which starts at Taroom on July 20 and ends at Mt Isa on August 9-11 as a great chance to win prize money and secure a position in the top-15 early in the season.

Spots in the NFR are determined by prize money and competitors have their best chances of major boosts in the standings with success on the Northern Run, the Warwick Rodeo on the last weekend in October, the Christmas Run in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and then the March long weekend of rodeos in Victoria.

STANDINGS LEADERS: All around cowboy Tody Collins (Maldon, Victoria), saddle bronc Cameron Webster (Wandoan, Qld), bull ride Warren Coatman (Nar Nar Goon, Victoria), Bareback bronc Lachlan Marshall (Berrigan, NSW), rope and tie Grant Hanrahan (Emerald, Qld), steer wrestling Jordan O’Neill (Caboolture, Qld), team roping header Clancy Middleton (Emerald, Qld), team roping heeler Aaron Bookluck (Nilma North, Victoria), all around cowgirl Wendy Caban (Moree, NSW), barrel race Tammy Woodall (Winnap, Victoria), breakaway roping Jorha Watkins (Springsure, Qld).

PROGRAM: 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.