WILLOW Tree cowgirl Nichole Fitzpatrick got the jump on the competition at the ABCRA Rodeo finals on Thursday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first night of the three night finals featured big rides in front of big crowds, with none bigger than Fitzpatrick’s 17.44 second barrel race.
She then went on to wow the crowd with a 2.49 second effort in the breakaway roping to get one hand on the 2014 All Round Cowgirl Award.
Attunga’s Teagan Glass wrapped it up for the local ladies, taking out the steer undecorating in a lightning time of 2.17 seconds.
Fitzpatrick picked up fourth in the girls’ version of steer wrestling.
The bulls won round one of the contest between man and beast, with only two cowboys managing to stay on the bucking units of beef.
Chris Lowe and Troy Cross left the other 13 behind in round one, Lowe putting on a stunning ride to pick up 84 points and get a shot at finishing in the top five money earners for the year.
The bull ride is one of the events that will be hotly contested tonight, with Wade McCarthy still just in front of Walcha’s Carl Green going into last night’s round.
Jake Plate is in third place but just might be out of reach of the top two, with Green a good chance of taking All Round Cowboy if he can ride his way to the top of the standings tonight.
Cody Angland matched Fitzpatrick on night one by taking out both the saddle bronc and the bareback with some outstanding rides, 79 points being the lucky number for the Wantabadgery cowboy.
Angland is having a great start to the year, taking second in both events at the Deniliquin Rodeo on January 6 to be named All Round Cowboy there and is hoping to take some more titles in Tamworth.
He had to share the Saddle Bronc award with Ben O’Reilly who also scored 79, with the two cowboys placed ninth and tenth overall for the year.
Calala cowboy Blake Hallam got off his horse and downed a steer in 4.59 seconds to take out the steer wrestling, just in front of Joel Mancell who came second and then went on to win the rope and tie with a time of 11.30 seconds.
The Bush boys, Steve and Josh, took out the Team Roping Header and Heeler respectively with a cracking 8.28 seconds.
Tickets are still available for tonight.
