QUEENSLAND pair Campbell Hodson and Liam Davison have won the team roping at the Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo in Victoria and are odds on to qualify for another national finals.
Hodson hails from Emerald and Davison lives at Charters Towers and they have become one of the most feared team roping teams in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
The early rodeo action this year will be in the southern states and the odds are Hodson and Davison could head south for the Victorian long weekend rodeo in March.
There are three rodeos on the Victorian long weekend, Kyabram on March 8, Merrijig on March 9 and Chiltern on March 10 and a large contingent of Queenslanders are expected to head south in quest of prizemoney and points towards national finals qualification.
Last season, Hodson won three championship buckles at the national finals in October in Warwick. He won the all around cowboy, rope and tie and team roping header titles for 2017.
Davison is a team roping specialist and was the champion heeler last year in the APRA.
The Queensland ropers headed to Myrtleford on Boxing Day to win the team roping in 5.3 seconds, well ahead of runners-up Jay Pokarier and Sally Malay who were timed at 9.95 seconds.
Hodson missed out on a place in the rope and tie at Myrtleford. The event was won by Queensland rider Stuart McGuire-Spalding in 4.5 seconds from Warwick cowboy Brock Eastwell who was clocked at 4.7.
Eastwell won the buckle for highest aggregate in the rope and tie at the 2017 national finals in Warwick. He did not qualify for the 2018 finals but is in the form which should see him qualify in the top 15 for this year’s national finals.
His brother Mitch is fourth in APRA standings this season after winning the rope and tie title last season.
The rough stock riders were in form in horse events at the Myrtleford Rodeo.
While none of the cowboys made time in the bull ride, Cody Angland from Springsure and Chiltern (Victoria) each scored 85 to win events.
Angland was two points ahead of second placegetter Heath Chalmers in saddle bronc and Phibbs won the bareback by six points from SA cowboy Tom Willoughby.
APRA program:
January 12: Alexandra Rodeo, Victoria
Carrick Bull Ride and Rodeo Spectacular, Tasmania
January 19: Peterborough Golden Spurs Rodeo, South Australia
Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo, Tasmania
Yarra Valley Rodeo, Victoria
January 26: Neerim Rodeo, Victoria
Wilmington Night Rodeo, South Australia
January 28: Harveydale Rodeo, Tasmania
February 2: Ulverstone Rodeo, Tasmania
February 9: Xtreme Bulls, Penrith, NSW
Wagga Wagga Rodeo, NSW
Ballarat Rodeo, Victoria