IT could be a battle between good mates from Warwick, Michael Maher and Mark Collins, when the Australian Professional Rodeo Association lobs into Mt Isa for the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo from Friday to Sunday. ( Aug 7-9)

Maher finished the season to April 30 on top of the APRA standings and Collins was second after an outstanding finish to the season.

Last year, Maher won the round and final at Mt Isa and then backed up to win overall in Warwick. It is rare for a rider to win the two biggest saddle bronc rides in the nation in the same year.

The Warwick pair won’t get it all their own way in Mt Isa with past national all around champion Rhys Angland heading to the north-west to compete in saddle bronc and bull riding.

Angland hails from Wantabadgery and is one of three siblings with outstanding results in horse events. His brother Cody is one of the best rough riders in the APRA and brother Ty is one of the nation’s top jockeys.

Last week, Angland won the open saddle bronc at the Cloncurry Merry Muster and Maher was victorious in the Ken Coleman Shoot-out,

Wandoan rider Cameron Webster has been a success story in the APRA for the past five years and is likely to rise to the occasion for Mt Isa.

Past national champion Anthony Caldwell hails from Tibooburra in north-west New South Wales and will be hard to beat along with current standings leader Greg Hamilton from Mitchell in Queensland.

Wendy Caban (Moree, NSW) and Cherie O’Donoghue (Lockington, Vic) are the two regulars riders on the APRA circuit with the most titles and will be seeking more glory at Mt Isa this weekend in the barrel race and breakaway roping.

While Caban might have enjoyed more success at barrel racing and O’Donoghue in roping, both have the ability to win either event at any rodeo on the APRA circuit.

There are 43 entries in breakaway roping with Stephanie Gard and Jane Fay two riders likely to test Caban and O’Donoghue.

Overall the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo has attracted 570 nominations, the most of any APRA rodeo this year.

After Mt Isa, many of the riders will start planning their run-up to the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships in which the top 15 in all eight APRA championship events will contest four rounds of finals on October 22-25.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: August 7-9 Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo (Qld); August 15 Katherine (NT), August 22 Darwin (NT); September 12 Pussycat Flats Rodeo (NT); October 4 Marrabel (SA); October 10 Rockhampton (Qld); October 21 Hobart Show Bulls and Barrels (Tas); October 22-25 Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships (Qld)..

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183