STRATHALBYN cowboy Leslie Stacey has taken early favouritism for the Marrabel Rodeo in South Australia with a win in the saddle bronc at the Darwin Rodeo.

Stacey has enjoyed plenty of success in South Australian rodeos but headed to Darwin to  beat some of the best in the business.

He won with a score of 74 on Overlander.

The two Northern Territory rodeos at Katherine and Darwin were the last on the Northern Run in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and the open winners came from four states which highlight the spread of rodeo ability across the nation.

The Marrabel Rodeo is on October 4 at the Marrabel Rodeo Grounds and will be used by some APRA members as a chance to fine tune their form for the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships in Queensland on October 22-25.

There are four South Australians in the top 20 in the standings and some will need withdrawals to make it into the top 15 for Warwick.

Spots in the standings are determined by money won in the season.

  Stacey’s brother David qualified 17^th for the finals and could still get an opportunity in the top-15 if two withdraw.

Daniel Pearson was 15^th in team roping header standings and qualifies for the finals in Warwick.

Gary Tielen was 16^th in the team roping heeler standings and could feature in Warwick if one rider withdraws while Kevin Reynolds jnr finished 19^th  in heeler.

Jenny Heath is 17^th in breakaway roping.

APRA Program: 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

NT open winners:

Katherine: Saddle bronc Adrian Chong 66, bull ride Matt Boland 79, bareback Ben Hall 68, rope and tie Clancy Middleton 13.0, steer wrestling Adrian Chong 5.15, team roping Clancy Middleton and Aaron Bookluck 5.5, barrel racing Cherie O’Donoghue 16.065, breakaway roping Stephanie Gard 3.25.

Darwin: Saddle bronc Leslie Stacey, bull ride Sally Malay, bareback Ben Hall, rope and tie Shane Iker, steer wrestling Errol Frain and Shane Iker equal 1^st 6.15, team roping Errol Frain and Shane Iker 6.55, barrel racing Susie Fearon 18.015, breakaway roping Tamara Knox 2.7.