The recently turned 22-year old –  he celebrated his birthday on Sunday – collected five national title buckles: three end of year and two finals aggregate.

“I’m rapt in the result,” Nichols said.

The highlight was winning the coveted all round cowboy title.

It was Nichols’ first after finishing runner-up last year.

He also successfully defended his rope and tie national title.

On top of that, Nichols won the rookie team roping header buckle after qualifying for the finals for the first time, the steerwrestling aggregate and was the allround cowboy for the finals.

It capped what was his best finals and best season.

As well as the ABCRA titles he also won the rope and tie and allround titles for the Bad Company and Central circuits.

He didn’t miss the money in the steerwrestling at the finals.

“I won two rounds of the steerwrestling and got two seconds,” Nichols said.

In the rope and tie he won the third round and was second on the final night to finish second in the aggregate.

He couldn’t have been much happier with how he performed over the finals, and put his success both over the four nights and the season, in part down to “being a bit more prepared and a bit more practice”.

He’s set to be spending a bit more time in the practice ring this year too as he looks to branch out into the rough stock events.

“I want to work on learning how to ride broncs (saddlebroncs),” he said.