APRA RODEO'S HEADS TO NT

AFTER a big fortnight of rodeo in the north-west of Queensland, the Australian Professional Rodeo Association heads to the Northern Territory for the final two rodeos on the Northern Run.

There are 157 nominations in all APRA championship events at Katherine on Saturday (August 15), including the most successful cowgirl in APRA history, Victorian star Cherie O’Donoghue.

O’Donoghue and partner Lee Kimber will both compete in Katherine on Saturday and are likely starters for the August 22 Darwin rodeo.

There are 19 entries for the second-division bull ride at Katherine and 15 in the open, including Beaudesert cowboy Fraser Babbington who has the record for the highest scoring bull ride in the APRA.

Two of the rodeo stars from the Northern Territory won bull rides on the Northern Run, Darcy McBean and Mark Lamberth.

Lamberth won at the richest rodeo in the nation at Mt Isa last weekend.

McBean is in the field at Katherine along with young gun Benjamin Gard from Table Top in New South Wales.

Benjamin and his sister Stephanie have won junior titles in the APRA and Stephanie has won the past two open titles in breakaway roping.

Kimber and Hughenden cowboy Clancy Middleton will be two of the riders to beat among the cowboys in the timed events.

Katherine Rodeo action will start at 6pm at the Katherine Showgrounds.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: 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)..