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(L to R) Entrant Tori Rafton (Warwick), MRA Runner-Up Nikea Coulson (Carrieton), MRA 2016 Katy Scott (Cloncurry), Entrant Daphne Tun (Darwin), MRA 2015 Danika Boland

Cloncurry (Qld) winner of Miss Rodeo Australia/Runner up from Carrieton (SA) presented at Warwick (Qld) function

CLONCURRY Rodeo Queen Katy Scott has been crowned Miss Rodeo Australia at a gala presentation evening on Saturday at the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre in Warwick.

Ms Scott, 23, will be an ambassador this year for the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

She works as a machine operator in a copper mine at Cloncurry (Qld) but plans to visit each state this year as well as Canada and the United States in her role at Miss Rodeo Australia.

She won a trip to the professional finals in Canada as part of her prize and can’t wait to be a part of the action in Canada and at the 10-day Cheyenne Frontier Days in the United States.

“Cheyenne is the daddy of them all in rodeo. It is really amazing I will be able to represent Australia overseas.”

Ms Scott has enjoyed success on the barrel racing circuit after first competing at the Cloncurry Rodeo at age 13.

“The Cloncurry Merry Muster is the highest paying one round professional rodeo in the Southern hemisphere,” she said.

“I am proud of what a small country community like Cloncurry can do.

“I had overwhelming support as an entrant in Miss Rodeo Australia which re-assured me.”

A contingent of 20 from Cloncurry, including deputy mayor Jane McMillan, travelled to Warwick for the two days of judging which included horsemanship judging on Saturday morning at the Warwick Showgrounds.

This year, she plans to travel to all Australian states in her role as Miss Rodeo Australia.

She also wants to build up professional rodeo in Western Australia.

“I want to incorporate the whole nation in what I want to do for the sport,” she said.

While it might be easy to put her barrel racing to the side this year, Ms Scott said if she was going to promote the sport, she should be competing as well.

She is high in praise of the support of her parents Ben Connolly and Robyn Rutherfurd.

“They have been great supporters of my career in rodeo since day 1,” she said.

When Ms Scott heads overseas, interstate or to another Queensland rodeo, her Mum will be home to keep her three horses in work.

“My main barrel racing horse at present is Banjo,” she said.

On the course, Ms Scott has a best of eighth in barrel racing at the richest rodeo in Australia at Mt Isa and has enjoyed many placings elsewhere.

“I was eighth in a round in a field of 70 at Mt Isa,” she said.

The new Miss Rodeo Australia has also competed in breakaway roping.

Ms Scott experienced the thrills and spills of rodeo at last year’s Cloncurry Merry Muster.

As the Cloncurry entrant in Miss Rodeo Australia, she carried the Australian flag in the grand entry but her barrel racing didn’t go as well.

“My horse slipped over right in front of the bar,” Ms Scott said.

“My blonde hair was covered in mud but afterwards champions of the sport came up to me as said it happened to the best of us,” she said.

As for her new role as Miss Rodeo Australia.

“Here we come, this year is going to be so exciting,” she said.

Nikea Coulson from Carrieton in South Australia was runner-up.

Daphne Tun from Darwin and Warwick Rodeo Queen Tori Rafton were also entrants and all four proved to be great ambassadors for the sport.

The first dinner as part of the judging process was at Rupert’s Bar and Grill in Warwick on Friday night. Accommodation for the Miss Rodeo Australia entrants was sponsored by the Coachman’s Inn in Warwick.

The judges were former Miss Rodeo Australia winners Mary Williams and Ali Simpson (nee Smith), Joe Wagner from Toowoomba and APRA cowboy Allan Flood from Warwick.

There are rodeos scheduled at Peterborough in South Australia and Penrith in New South Wales this weekend.

RODEO PROGRAM: February 6 Peterborough (SA), XXXX Gold Xtreme Bulls at Penrith (NSW); February 13 Ballarat (Vic), Ross (Tas); February 20 Hay Twilight Rodeo (NSW), Lillico (Tas), XXXX Gold Xtreme Bulls Dubbo (NSW); February 27 Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld), Narrandera (NSW), Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas), Whittlesea (Vic).

More information from APRA on 07 4661 9493.

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