DYSART rider Sonny Schafferius will be one to watch as some of the best bucking bulls in the nation do battle with the cowboys in 72 contests at the Bowen River Rodeo this weekend.
The rodeo has attracted most of the best riders from North and Central Queensland and many of the best Australian Professional Rodeo Association members from interstate.
Schafferius is one of 23 nominations in the open bull ride on Saturday and one of 25 on Sunday in a field which also includes Wagga Wagga (NSW) young gun Sean Lynch.
Three of the placegetters from the open bull ride at Nebo a fortnight ago have nominated, including third-placed Mitchell Paton, Ryan Storey who was fourth and sixth-placed Beau Willis.
Storey hails from Dingo in Central Queensland and has been one of the best bull riders in the APRA for the past three years.
Jason Mara from Kokotungo in Central Queensland is originally from Cloncurry and is always a strong chance of prize money when he competes. He should be in the top five at Bowen River.
In the saddle bronc ride, Warwick rider Mark Collins is one of the favourites after winning at Nebo a fortnight ago with 83 points. He will face a field including fellow Warwick rider Michael Maher who headed the APRA standings at the end of the season to April 30.
In the bareback, Toowoomba rider Owen Lee will be favourite after winning the bareback at Nebo with a score of 79.
His toughest opposition will come from former Western Australian rider Deon Lane (Charters Towers) who now calls north-west Queensland home.
Lane is one of a handful of cowboys who contest two rough stock events.
He will have rides in the saddle bronc and bull ride on both Saturday and Sunday at Bowen River.
There are second-division and junior bull rides at Bowen River in addition to the open events as well as three roping events, steer wrestling and the ladies barrel race.
Two of the North Queensland riders to watch will be Nebo star Jarrod Deguara in steer wrestling and Townsville roper Campbell Hodson.
The Bowen River Rodeo will be held at the Bowen River Rodeo Grounds and will commence at 9am on both Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7.
