ANTHONY CALDWELL

AFTER winning the saddle bronc title this year, Tibooburra cowboy Anthony Caldwell is again well placed in Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings.

Caldwell won the title from South Australian star Glen Kent and Millmerran (Qld) rider Peter Moffatt in June at the Gold Coast.

This season, Caldwell is 13th on the standings in the new season which ends on April 30.

Wandoan (Qld) rider Cameron Webster won the pro tour last season and again leads the standings from Moffatt.

There are eight New South Wales riders in the top 20 in saddle bronc standings, most from the north of the state.

Cody Angland, of Wantabadgery, is 8th,Denny Swadling, of Currabubula, is 9th, Dubbo cowboy Chris Lappa is 12th, Upper Bingara rider Mitchell Steiger 13th and Mark Edwards, of Gundagai, 15th.

Bective rider Brent Smyth is in 17th place and Manilla cowboy Robert Bandy 18th.

The top 15 in each APRA championship event will qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association on May 1-4 next year at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre at Caboolture.

With the two richest rodeos in the APRA, Mt Isa and Warwick, over for another season, Northern NSW riders keen to make the top 15 will need to head south for groups of rodeo at Christmas or on the Victorian long weekend in March.

The Christmas Run of seven rodeos in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia starts at Myrtleford on December 26 and the Victorian long weekend rodeos are on March 7-9 at Kyabram, Merrijig and Chiltern.

The next rodeo in New South Wales is at the Rosewood Golf Club on December 7.