JUNIOR SEASON COMING TO A CLOSE

As the end of April approaches upon us very quickly, it isn’t hard to see there is a knife fight happening to get into the top 10 of each event for the upcoming Junior National Finals. The close of the season for the Junior competitors is next weekend with still five rodeos between now and then that they can potentially win money at to secure them a spot into the prestigious top 10 of their chosen event. With a few rodeos not finalised from the past few weekends and counting towards the standings at this point in time as its stands, the front runner in the Junior Bull Riding is Cade Ferguson. Cade has qualified to the Junior National Finals held in Emerald every year in June on multiple occasions, so he knows what it takes to rise to top in the pressure scenario that approaches. The ones trailing Cade for the Junior Bull Riding include Tom Ings, Matty Ahern, Toby Deudney and Nash Jones. Staying down at the rough stock end of the arena for the Junior Steer Ride, Matty Ahern is currently claiming the lead which he has narrowly increased within the last few weeks of rodeos in particularly over the Easter run in Queensland. Matty has Jayden Kenny, Toby Deudney, Noah Dingle, and Nash Jones hot on his heels not letting him rest until the very end of the season. As for the Junior Team Roping Header, Jayden Kenny, whom is a former Junior Heading Champion and a qualifier to the Open National Finals in the heading side is the one who holds the ace in the pack at this stage. Although he can not possibly be beat for this Pro Tour title, Jett Leahy, Coben Ayers, Darcy DallÁglio and Hayden Litchfield have all secure their spots to the Junior National Finals. On the other side of the box, the Junior Team Roping Heeler is lead by none other than Kade O’Dea who has collected big wins in the Junior Team Roping at Deniliquin, Echuca, and Peterborough Rodeos just to name a few. The trailers in the Heeling are Jackson Dixson, Trent Reynolds, Mason Iker and Jake Deguara. The hottest contented junior event this season is without a doubt the Junior Barrel Racing although in the last few weeks, Emi Carlson has increased her lead by quiet a bit. Emi takes the lead ahead of Layney Deguara, Phoebe Usher, Molly Harper, and Olivia Priestley-Halliday. The rest of the field are going to be fighting right until the very end to qualify as from 8^th position down to the 16^th position are all only separated by roughly $500 which can easily be won over the next couple of rodeos. The 12 and Under Barrel Race, although it will not be run at the Junior Finals in June there is a Pro Tour to be awarded which is currently led by Billie Donald and followed closely by Ryder Pierce, Ruby Bell, Kodah Lovett, and Adelaide Donald. The Junior Breakaway ropers are on fire this season, they are getting led into the Junior Finals by none of other than Jayden Kenny currently, Jackson Dixson, Coben Ayers, Lacey Hoskins and Tyler Kenny are grasping at his heels for the Pro Tour. All the Top 10 competitors are applauded for their dedication to our sport and their sportsmanship throughout the highs and lows of their 2023 season. We are excited to see what it will come down to in the final days. Once qualified, the Junior’s will all go into the Finals on a clean slate and compete under sudden death conditions. See you all in June for the crowning of our Junior Champions after three action packed rounds of competition!