CLONCURRY rider George Chong goes in to this weekend’s (August 9-11) Mt Isa Rodeo with plenty of confidence after splitting first in the open bull ride at the Cloncurry Merry Muster Rodeo last weekend.
Chong has nominated for both open and second division bull rides at Mt Isa and is one of the up and coming riders on the Australian Professional Rodeo Association circuit.
He was equal first at Cloncurry with New South Wales rider Charlie Collees with a score of 84, enough to win the bull ride at most pro rodeos.
Some of his toughest competition at Mt Isa in the open event will come from former Cloncurry rider Jason Mara.
There are 40 cowboys in the open bull ride at Mt Isa and 73 in second division.
Todd Remfrey, of Cloncurry, was second behind Emerald rider Kacey Kenny in steer wrestling at Cloncurry.
Cloncurry cowboy Dean McIntyre was fifth in the team roping with fellow North Queensland rider Casey Lillyman and both are strong chances of a place at Mt Isa.
Wandoan rider David Worsfold is odds on favourite to win the bareback bronc ride at Mt Isa after scoring 83 to win at the Cloncurry Merry Muster last weekend, his third successive win on the Northern Run.
He scored 84 to win at Taroom, the closest rodeo to his hometown, and 80 for victory at a rodeo at the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach.
The Mt Isa Rodeo starts on Friday and is the richest in the APRA. There will be two rounds or one round and a final in each event at Mt Isa.
Cloncurry Merry Muster Festival secretary Peta McIntyre rated the rodeo last weekend as fantastic.
“We had a crowd of more than 5000 over the weekend which was up on last year,” she said.
“The majority of the competitors will stay in the north west for Mt Isa.”
