WARWICK cowboy Mitch Eastwell has won three rookie titles this year in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and goes into the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals as one of the favourites.
The top 15 in each event qualify for the national finals on October 24-27 at the Warwick Rodeo.
Mitch has won the all around cowboy, rope and tie and team roping header rookie titles, the most by any rider this year.
Mitch proved at last year’s finals he could rise to the occasion when he won round 1 of the rope and tie at the national finals.
He has qualified fourth in open APRA standings in the rope and tie this season.
The high point of the season for Mitch was winning round 1 and the aggregate in the rope and tie at the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo.
He was also placed in steer wrestling to win the all around cowboy title at Mt Isa but will only be going in one event at the finals after focusing on the rope and tie during the 2018 season.
At Mt Isa, Mitch’s older brother Wade won round 2 and goes into the national finals 11th on the standings.
As he is in the bottom five qualifiers, Wade will need to place in all four rounds at the Warwick Showgrounds in late October to have any chance of winning the APRA rope and tie title.
Last year, the youngest of the Eastwell brothers, Brock, won the aggregate at the national finals but was overseas for part of this season and didn’t go in enough rodeos to push for a top-15 spot.
The four rounds of the national finals will start on the Wednesday night, October 24, when there is free admission to the Warwick Showgrounds.
Patrons will be charged to watch rounds 2-4 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The finals of second division and junior events will be at the Warwick Showgrounds on the Sunday, October 28.
Victorian rider Sam Pratt won the rookie all around cowgirl title as well as the barrel race. Unless there are a large number of withdrawals, Pratt won’t be competing in the national finals as she is ranked 19th in breakaway roping and 21st in the barrel race and only 15 compete in each national finals event in Warwick
The other dual winner was Ty King from Penguin in Tasmania. He won the steer wrestling and team roping heeler pro tour rookie titles.
King headed to Queensland for some rodeos this season and is ranked 11th in saddle bronc so will compete in the finals.
He finished 17th in open standings in both the rope and tie and steer wrestling.
Last year, his father Gary qualified for the team roping at the finals and has made the national finals in 15th place this season.
2018 Rookie Champions:
Rookie of the Year – Mitch Eastwell
Rookie Cowgirl of the Year – Sam Pratt
Saddle Bronc – Jack McKenzie
Bull Ride – Sam Woodall
Bareback – Tom Phibbs
Rope & Tie – Mitch Eastwell
Steer Wrestling – Ty King
Team Roping Header – Mitch Eastwell
Team Roping Heeler – Ty King
Barrel Race – Sam Pratt
Breakaway Roping – Bridie Davison