STRATHALBYN rider David Stacey has won the open saddle bronc ride at the Carrieton Rodeo in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

David Stacey won with a score of 80 from past APRA national champion and last year’s winner Glen Kent on 78 with Leslie Stacey third on 77.

Toowoomba (Qld) rider Owen Lee split first at Carrieton in the bareback bronc ride with fellow Queenslander David Worsfold, of Wandoan.

Carrieton Rodeo Club secretary Glyn Shackleford said judge Don Childs told him the bulls at Carrieton were one of the toughest line-up of bulls you’d see in the sport.

The top two in APRA standings, Queensland pair Roy Dunn and Sam Champ both bucked off. Victorian rider Bryden Atkins was the only cowboy to ride time when he scored 84 in the bull ride.

“We had big entries for the rodeo and a crowd of 3000,” Shackleford said.

“The 2013 Bull Fighter of the Year was in action at Carrieton, Tom Wreford worked at his first rodeo after returning from North America. He combined with Byron O’Keefe.”

In a further promotion at Carrieton, pick-up man Michael Batchelor, of Grong Grong (NSW), rode into the arena in full light horse battle uniform and a 1914 army rifle over his shoulder in memory of the Yanyarrie Light Horse Brigade which headed from the Carrieton area to the First World War a century ago.

Winners Carrieton:

Bull ride: Bryden Atkins 84 points

Bareback: Owen Lee and David Worsfold 81

Steer wrestling: Lee Kimber 5.45 seconds

Rope and tie: Lee Kimber 4.85

Team roping: Clancy Middleton and Brody Moss 5.5

Saddle bronc: David Stacey 80

Breakaway roping: Tenielle Middleton 3.05

Barrel race: Cherie O’Donoghue 17.844

APRA PROGRAM: January 1 Tumbarumba (NSW), January 2 Finley (NSW); January 3 Beechworth (Vic) and Deniliquin (NSW).

More information or requests for more photos to APRA office 07 4661 8183.