The bull ride at Luddenham is the final day of this year’s series prior to the Xtreme Bulls National Finals on January 18 at Tamworth.

Howlett was second at this year’s Cloncurry Rodeo on the Gill Brothers bull Spartan in his best performance for the season. He scored 85 to finish behind Mareeba cowboy Rohan Markham at Cloncurry. 

There are 21 nominations for the bull ride including current APRA champion Will Purcell from Victoria.

New South Wales rider Troy Wilkinson rode three of his four bulls at the national finals rodeo in Warwick in October and will be one of the riders to watch at Luddenham.

Event organiser Simon Cresswell said the local authority in the Penrith area had been very supportive in the run up to the bull ride.

“One of the riders in action will be series leader Dylan Weir,” he said.

Howlett is a second-generation bull ride, his father Buddy Howlett rode bulls, broncs and bareback horses.

“I went in bareback as a junior and have been on one bucking bronc. I plan to stick to bulls, horses are scarier, the bull ride is safer than the bronc ride,” he said.

He believes a score in the mid 80s will be needed to win at Luddenham.

Next year, Howlett is eyeing off the Xtreme Bulls final and is hoping to qualify for a third successive Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals in October .

He is currently working for rodeo stock contractors Gill Brothers at Upper Horton (NSW) and gets the chance each week to jump on some practice bulls.

The first Queensland rodeo for Howlett this season will be the New Year’s  Eve Rodeo at Mitchell and he then plans to head south for the Wangaratta (Victoria) rodeo in early January.

The biggest run in the APRA will start at Myrtleford in north-east Victoria starts on Boxing Day with rodeos in nine Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia centres in 17 days.

 

More information or requests for more rodeos to APRA head office on 07 4661 8183

 

Upcoming Rodeos

26th December 2019 – Myrtleford Rodeo; VIC

27th December 2019 – Yarrawonga Rodeo; VIC

28th December 2019 – Carrieton Rodeo; SA

30th-31st December 2019 – Smithton Rodeo & Stockmans Challenge; TAS

31st December 2019 – Tallangatta Rodeo; VIC

31st December 2019 – Mitchell Rodeo; QLD

1st January 2020 – Tumbaruma Rodeo; NSW

3rd January 2020 – Finley Rodeo; NSW

4th January 2020 – Wangaratta Rodeo; VIC

5th January 2020 – K Ranch Rodeo; NSW

 

Photo of Lane Howlett by Barry Richards Photography