NEW Australian Professional Rodeo Association executive chairman Lee Kimber will head a large contingent of competitors from the eastern states heading to Darwin for the final rodeo on this year’s Northern Run.

Kimber will compete in steer wrestling, rope and tie and team roping after being regularly in the top-15 for the past decade.

He is originally from Queensland and lived at Kalbar but now lives on a farm at Lockington in Victoria.

Kimber’s best chance of a victory is in steer wrestling where he will face current APRA standings leader Clancy Middleton from Hughenden in Queensland.

Middleton has previously placed in the Northern Territory.

Alton Downs (Qld) rider Shane Iker will also compete at Darwin and like Kimber and Middleton has the ability to win any of his three events at the timed event end of the arena.

Mark Lamberth and Darcy McBean will be two of the Northern Territory bull riders to watch at Darwin.

Lamberth won the richest rodeo in Australia this month at Mt Isa when he scored 84 in the first round at a rodeo when no riders made time in the final. Lamberth also won the aggregate.

Northern Territory rider Darcy McBean won the open bull ride at Emerald early on the APRA Northern Run.

The rodeo has attracted 190 nominations, including 23 in the open bull ride and 26 in the second-division event.

Beaudesert cowboy Fraser Babbington holds the record for the highest bull riding score in the APRA and rates with Lamberth and Victorian star Bryden Atkins as one of the riders to beat in Darwin.

Some of the best cowgirls in Australia will compete at Mt Isa, including Lockington, Victoria, rider Cherie O’Donoghue, the cowgirl with the most titles in APRA history.

Some of her toughest opposition will come from her niece and fellow Victorian rider Shianne ODonoghue-Kent and Queensland rider Tenielle Middleton from Hughenden.

Darwin Rodeo will start at 6pm on Saturday 22nd August at the Robbie Robbin’s Reserve, Darwin.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: 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