COWBOYS from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria are the favourites for the open bull ride at this weekend’s Warwick Rodeo.
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The Warwick Rodeo is known as the most famous in Australia and rates with Mt Isa as one of the big two in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
Current APRA standings leader Roy Dunn is the favourite after being the only rider to make time on two bulls at Mt Isa in August.
Dunn hails from Proserpine in North Queensland.
He will face tough opposition from past champion and current APRA record holder Fraser Babbington who is originally from New Zealand but now lives at Beaudesert in Queensland.
Tooma (NSW) rider Brad Pierce has won titles in the APRA as well as rookie bull ride and rookie all around titles in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in the United States and will make the trip to Warwick.
Last year, Upper Horton (NSW) rider Troy Wilkinson won the bull ride at the Warwick Rodeo soon after returning from a riding stint in the United States and is aiming to go back-to-back.
The Victorian charge will be led by Bryden Atkins who was a prolific winner as a junior and has enjoyed success in the United States in the open ranks.
The interstate rivalry will be just as strong in the cowgirl events, with Moree (NSW) rider Wendy Caban the favourite.
Caban is the current APRA leader in barrel race and all around standings.
Her toughest opposition will come from current runner-up Jamie-Lee Williams, of Alton Downs, in Central Queensland.
Stephanie Gard from Table Top in New South Wales is a past national champion in cowgirl events and will be one to watch in the barrel race and breakaway roping.
Cherie O’Donoghue has the most all around cowgirl titles in APRA history and will travel from Lockington in Victoria to Warwick.
In the timed events for cowboys, the favourites in the rope and tie are four Queenslanders, two Victorians and one rider from New South Wales.
Emerald (Qld) rider Shane Kenny has won 12 rope and tie titles in the APRA and is this season’s standings leader.
His greatest challenge will come from Alton Downs (Qld) rider Shane Iker who was runner up to Kenny in the title battle last year and is second in the standings this season.
Clancy Middleton from Hughenden in North Queensland and past champion Mark Knox, of Ebenezer in Queensland, make up the top four chances from Queensland.
Victorian pair Terry Evison (Trafalgar) and Lee Kimber (Lockington) have been among the best ropers in the nation this decade and could easily secure a title in Warwick.
The New South Wales hopes in the rope and tie will be led by Ty Parkinson, of Moonbi, who won round 2 at Mt Isa this season and is third in the standings.
Parkinson will compete with Ben Smith in team roping.
One team roping team to watch will be Tamworth couple Greg and Phillipa Leys in an event where Ebenezer (Qld) couple Mark and Tamara Knox are also combining.
Events begin this evening (6.30pm) with main action tomorrow and at the weekend. Action will also be under lights on Saturday night.
Prize money on offer in Warwick ranks with Mt Isa in the top two in the APRA so there are 550 nominations as riders aim to win prize money to boost their position in the standings and chance to qualify in the top 15 for next year’s National Finals Rodeo.