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WARWICK'S reputation as the home of the nation's most famous rodeo has been further enhanced by news the Australian Professional Rodeo Association national finals will be held during the Warwick Rodeo for the next three years.

The Warwick Show and Rodeo Society and APRA have agreed to hold The Warwick Rodeo national finals in conjunction with the annual rodeo on the last weekend in October.

Last year, the APRA national finals were held at Warwick for the first time for decades.

Society president John Kiss said the management committee had considered the matter at length.

"In the end, the opinions of the crowd at last year's rodeo that the finals worked well was a significant factor in the decision," he said.

"Some people rated it the best rodeo ever and wanted the format from last year to continue."

Dr Kiss said it was a good fit to have the APRA finals at the home of the most famous rodeo in Australia.

"The APRA office is in Warwick. We get the biggest rodeo crowd in Australia. It is a good fit," he said. "We hope in the future to increase prizemoney for the finals. The current agreement is for three years."

APRA executive chairman Lee Kimber from Lockington, Victoria, did most of the negotiations with Dr Kiss and knows plenty about the Warwick Showgrounds.

He lived within a stone's throw of the showgrounds when he was a student at Warwick High.

The Warwick Rodeo National Finals will be held over four rounds. The top-15 in each of the eight championship events will contest rounds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and on the Sunday afternoon.

APRA office manager Karen Burraston said the association had many promotions planned during rodeo week.

"We will have more inductions into the Hall of Fame, back number presentations and host a special function on the Sunday night to present the Australian championship saddles and buckles," she said.

"Our members thought the national finals went well in Warwick last year."

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