PROSERPINE rider Roy Dunn will face a major challenge from the Mara brothers when he contests three bull rides on the Easter weekend, two at Roma and one at Easter.

Dunn has won twice as much prize money as any other bull rider in this season’s Australian Professional Rodeo Association circuit but will face tough opposition at Easter.

He will face a field including standings runner-up Sam Champ, of Meldale, near Caboolture, and the Mara brothers.

Originally from Cloncurry in western Queensland, Troy and Jason Mara have also lived in the Central Queensland area and have been two of the top riders in the APRA for the past decade.

Former Western Australian rider Gerard Oversby will compete in the bull ride and bareback bronc ride after placing in bareback at this year’s Warwick Rodeo.

Wyreema cowboy Ben Palmer is one of the bull riders on the way up and is a likely prize money winner in the bull ride at Easter.

Wagga Wagga rider Sean Lynch will make the trip from southern New South Wales to contest the bull ride at Easter in Queensland.

In timed events, Moree (NSW) cowgirl Wendy Caban is the most successful competitor in the past seven seasons in the APRA.

  Caban will travel to Queensland for the three Easter Rodeo. She is a title winner at all around level as well as in the barrel race and breakaway roping and is equal favourite for any event she contests.

The Easter action in Queensland will start with a Friday bull ride at Roma.

All eight championship events will be held at the Emerald M Group Sunflower Festival Rodeo on Easter Saturday and the Roma Rodeo on Easter Sunday.

Riders are going into the last month of the APRA season with some needing prize money to qualify for the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships on October 22-25 when the top-15 in each event will compete for the titles.

APRA program

April 3 Great Western Rodeo (Vic); April 3 Roma Bull Ride; April 4 Emerald M Group Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo; April 4 Omeo; April 5 Buchan (Vic); April 5 Roma (Qld), April 5 Tocumwal (NSW); April 6 Lang Lang (Vic); April 11 Corryong (Vic); April 25 Alstonville (NSW).

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