AFTER winning the Australian Professional Rodeo Association saddle bronc title in late October at the Warwick Rodeo, Wandoan saddle bronc rider Cameron Webster will be back on the road to the K Ranch Rodeo at Mt Hunter, NSW this weekend.
Webster won last season’s pro tour and his willingness to travel long distances makes him an early favourite for the 2019 pro tour title.
The new season started on October 1 but most of the early action was at the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals.
Mitchell rider Greg Hamilton was second overall at Mt Isa this year and will be one to watch at the K Ranch Rodeo.
Queensland rider Jake Whalan was one of only four riders to record a score in bull riding at the national finals. He has nominated for K Ranch along with Rothbury (NSW) rider Jason O’Hearn, a past title winner in the APRA.
After a first and second in the steer wrestling at the national finals, Lockington (Vic) cowboy Lee Kimber will make the trip to K Ranch to compete in the rope and tie, steer wrestling and team roping.
His fiancée Cherie O’Donoghue won the breakaway roping title at the finals and has nominated for the barrel race and breakaway roping at K Ranch.
Warwick rider Mitch Eastwell won the APRA title in the rope and tie and is aiming to start the new season with some placings at K Ranch. He has nominated in the rope and tie and steer wrestling.
The second rodeo scheduled this Saturday is the Kapunda Rodeo in SA.
After a second and equal fourth in the bareback bronc ride and third in steer wrestling at the finals, SA ironman Tom Willoughby will compete in four events at Kapunda. He is in the bull ride and bareback bronc ride, rope and tie and steer wrestling.
Willoughby was the only rider at the national finals in Warwick in late October to compete in both rough stock and timed events and it is the same at Kapunda.
After winning round 2 at the national finals in the bull ride, Victorian rider Sam Woodall will travel to SA to compete at Kapunda. He scored 88 in Warwick, the highest score in any of the rough stock events.
Two of the SA riders to place at the national finals will compete at Kapunda.
Candy Michaelis won the title and national finals aggregate in the barrel race at the Warwick Rodeo and has nominated in the barrel race at Kapunda.
Amanda Tielen was third in round 2 of the barrel racing at Warwick and is in both barrel racing and breakaway roping events at Kapunda.
After this weekend, the next APRA rodeo will be Xtreme Bulls Pro Tour Finals at K Ranch arena at Mt Hunter on November 17-18.
