Yass rider on top going into finals in Warwick

Yass (NSW) cowboy Clay Bush won the Rope and Tie pro tour buckle and will be one of the favourites.

He is also the Team Roping Heeler standings leader and won the pro tour title in the All-Around Cowboy standings for the 2017-2018 season.

The top 15 in each Australian Professional Rodeo Association event have qualified for the finals in Warwick.

Bush leads the Rope and Tie standings from Emerald pair Campbell Hodson and Shane Kenny.

Two years ago, Kenny won title buckles for Rope and Tie, Team Roping, Steer Wrestling and All-Around Cowboy at the National Finals in Warwick.

In a sport where there are three variables, rider, horse and beast, Kenny missed out on a title last year.

Hodson won the All-Around Cowboy title last year in Warwick and will be one of the toughest to beat in the finals in October.

Alton Downs rider Shane Iker is a past Rope and Tie and All-Around title winner and could surprise from sixth spot in the standings.

Two of the form riders in the Rope and Tie are Warwick brothers Mitch and Wade Eastwell.

Mitch finished the season in fourth place and Wade is 11^th on the standings after they scooped the pool at the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo.

At Mt Isa, Mitch won the first round and was overall winner in the Rope and Tie to move up to fourth spot in the standings.

He capped a fine weekend with the All-Around title win at Mt Isa.

Wade won round 2 at Mt Isa and goes into the final in 11^th place in the Rope and Tie standings.

Lockington (Vic) rider Cherie O’Donoghue leads the standings in Breakaway Roping from Alton Downs cowgirl Jorja Iker.

Former NT and now Brigalow rider Jane Willoughby is third in the standings ahead of last year’s All-Around Cowgirl title winner Ellysa Kenny.

Warwick cowgirl Kylie Hancock has qualified for her first National Finals Rodeo in the Professional ranks.

Lavington (Vic) rider Stephanie Gard is a past All-Around title winner in the APRA and will go into the finals in Breakaway Roping in seventh place.

October 24-27: Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals, Qld

October 26: Hobart Show Bulls and Barrels, Tasmania

October 27-28: Warwick second-division and junior rodeo, Qld

November 3: Melton Mowbray Rodeo, Tasmania

November 10: Kapunda Rodeo, South Australia

November 17-18: K Ranch Xtreme Bulls Pro Tour Finals, NSW

November 24: Wynyard Rodeo, Tasmania

December 15: The Rock Rodeo, NSW

All Around Cowboy - Clay Bush (Yass, NSW)

All Around Cowgirl – Cherie O’Donoghue (Lockington, Vic)

Saddle Bronc – Cameron Webster (Wandoan, Qld)

Bull Ride – Jason O’Hearn (Rothbury, NSW)

Bareback Bronc – Ben Hall (Tumbarumba, NSW)

Rope and Tie – Clay Bush (Yass, NSW)

Steer Wrestling – Ryley Gibb (Charters Towers, Qld)

Team Roping Header – Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld)

Team Roping Heeler – Clay Bush (Yass, NSW)

Barrel Race – Candy Michaelis (Lewiston, SA)

Breakaway Roping: Cherie O’Donoghue (Lockington, Vic)