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WILLOW Tree cowgirl Nichole Fitzpatrick has the chance to prove yet again she is the best in the business when she heads to Queensland for three rodeos during the Northern Run.

She has nominated for the barrel race and breakaway roping at the Richmond Rodeo on Saturday (July 26) and then the Cloncurry Merry Muster on August 1-2 and Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo on August 8-10.

Last season, Fitzpatrick won the all around cowgirl pro tour title for most money won in the APRA season and then won the all around and barrel racing titles after a strong performance at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in May at Caboolture.

She does not feature in the new season standings yet as all the rodeos so far have been one-off events in Queensland.

But with three Queensland rodeos on successive weekends, Fitzpatrick has a real chance to take the lead in the standings.

She has nominated for barrel racing and breakaway roping at all three rodeos.

The cowgirls will be out in force at Richmond on Saturday with 21 in the barrel race and 20 in breakaway roping.

There will be even more riders to beat at Cloncurry and Mt Isa with more than 40 nominations in each event at both rodeos with nominations still open.

Fitzpatrick will face her toughest opposition in her second event, breakaway roping, from titleholder Stephanie Gard, of Table Top, New South Wales.

Gard is barely out of juniors but won the title at the NFR.

Leslie Moore pipped Fitzpatrick for the pro tour barrel racing title for most money won last season and will compete at Richmond, Cloncurry and Mt Isa.

Moore is originally from Denman in New South Wales but now calls Willung, Victoria, home, when not on the rodeo road.

One of the best placed Northern New South Wales riders in early season standings is Moree rider Troy Caban.

Troy is third in team roping header standings and his brother Dale, of Emerald, third in heeler standings after they shared early season success in Queensland.

Rodeo Program: July 26 Richmond; August 1-2 Cloncurry; August 8-10 Mt Isa; August 16 Katherine (NT); August 23 Darwin (NT); August 30 Mataranka (NT).

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183

STANDINGS LEADERS (After first two months of new season):

All around Shane Kenny (Emerald)

Saddle bronc Jason Crawford (Dingo)

Bull ride Roy Dunn (Proserpine)

Bareback Jamie Howlett (Roma)

Rope and tie Shane Kenny (Emerald)

Steer wrestling Kacey Kenny (Emerald)

Team roping header Jordan Austin-Iker (Alton Downs)

Team roping heeler Brenton Bell (Gracemere)

All around cowgirl Jill Lyons (Gracemere)

Barrel racing Jill Lyons (Gracemere)