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NEW South Wales riders Stephanie Gard and Vicki Schiller will be two to watch as the Australian Professional Rodeo Association starts its Christmas Run with the Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo on Boxing Day.

There are seven rodeo on the run over two weeks in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Gard won the APRA all around cowgirl title two months ago and Schiller is competing at Myrtleford after winning titles down the years.

The all around win this year by Gard was on top of breakaway roping title wins in 2013 and 2014. She calls Table Top near Albury in New South Wales home and is joined at many rodeos by her siblings Ellie and Benjamin.

Schiller hails from Wagga Wagga and has won four all around cowgirl and four barrel racing titles in the APRA since 1988.

Their toughest opposition will come from Lockington (Victoria) rider Cherie O’Donoghue who won the breakaway roping title this year and has the most all around APRA titles among the cowgirls who compete in multiple events.

In cowboy events, Tooma cowboy Brad Pierce will be one to watch after winning this year’s saddle bronc title and is also contesting the bull ride at Myrtleford.

His toughest opponents in the saddle bronc will be Millmerran, Queensland, pair, John McNamee and Peter Moffatt, while Sally Malay will be hard to beat in the bull ride.

Malay won both bull rides at the Rosewood Rodeo in New South Wales earlier this month so will start the Christmas Run at Myrtleford as one of the favourites.

Originally from Western Australia, Malay moved to Yarrawonga in Victoria and is now working in the Longreach area in Queensland.

He was the only rider in both the open and second-division bull rides to make time at Rosewood.

Malay is one of almost 200 nominations for the first of the seven Christmas Run rodeos, the Boxing Day Rodeo, at Myrtleford in Victoria.

The second rodeo early on the Christmas Run is at Carrieton in South Australia on December 27 where there are more than 200 nominations.

There are two rodeos during the Christmas Run in New South Wales, New Year’s Day at Tumbarumba where the 71^st annual rodeo will be held and then at Finley on January 8.

PROGRAM: December 26 – Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo (Vic); December 27 – Carrieton (SA); December 31-January 1 – Alton Downs Double Dip (Qld); January 1 – Tumbarumba 71^st Rodeo (NSW); January 2 – Yarrawonga (Vic); January 8 – Finley (NSW); January 9 – Beechworth (Vic) and Carrick Bull Ride and Rodeo Spectacular (Tas).

More information APRA 07 4661 8183.

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