Tamworth cowgirl Phillipa Leys is aiming for a golden finish to the APRA season at the Gold Coast.
RODEO
TAMWORTH cowgirl Phillipa Leys is second in breakaway roping standings going into the final three months of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association season.
The current season started on December 1, 2011 and will finish on April 30 this year. The longer season is to fit in to the new timeslot for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) which has been moved from January to June at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The winter timeslot fits in better with the Gold Coast events calendar and was well supported by spectators last year.
Leys is $4000 in prize money behind breakaway roping standings leader Kerry Turner, of Charlwood, in Queensland, and needs to perform well at three rodeos on the long weekend in Victoria in early March and then at Comet, Emerald and Roma in Queensland to have any chance of winning the pro tour.
The pro tour buckles are awarded to the event leaders at April 30 and the titles to the competitors who win over five rounds at the NFR in June.
Leys has a better chance of winning the rookie breakaway roping pro tour title as she leads the standings from Central Queensland rider Rachelle Carlo. Last year, Leys was third in round 1 of breakaway roping at the NFR behind round and overall winner Megan Pohlman, of Gatton.
Moree rider Wendy Caban is a certain qualifier for the NFR in the barrel race as she is currently seventh in the standings but need some prize money in the next three months to make it into the top-15 in breakaway roping.
As the defending all around cowgirl titleholder, Caban must qualify in two events to have any chance of retaining her title.
APRA program: January 26 Harveydale (Tas), Wilmington (SA); February 2 Peterborough (SA), Ross (Tas); February 16 Ballarat (Vic), Wagga Wagga (NSW); February 23 Narrandera (NSW), Whittlesea (Vic); March 1 Woodford Bull Ride (Qld); March 2 Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld); March 8 Kyabram (Vic); March 9 Merrijig (Vic); March 10 Gowrie Park (Tas), Chiltern (Vic); March 23 Preston (Tas), Comet (Qld) Benefit Rodeo; March 29 Fielders Great Western Rodeo (Vic), Roma Bull Ride; March 30 Omeo (Vic), Emerald (Qld), Tocumwal (NSW); March 31 Buchan (Vic), Roma (Qld), Daly Waters (NT); April 1 Lang Lang (VIC)