THERE are 120 nominations for the bull rides at the Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo on August 8-11.
Mt Isa is the richest rodeo in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and also attracts the most nominations.
The second division bull ride starts on Thursday and has 59 nominations. There are 12 nominations in the over 40s bull ride, an event which is only held at Mt Isa.
The open bull ride has 49 nominations led by standings leader Will Purcell. The Victorian star has won twice as much money as the next best in the field.
He is almost certain to win the pro tour for most money won in the season to September 30.
Victorian timed event star Terry Evison is the leader in all around cowboy standings in the APRA so will start as favourite for his three events, rope and tie, team roping and steer wrestling.
Evison was a dual winner last weekend at the Cloncurry Merry Muster so is in top form.
In the all around cowgirl standings, Emerald rider Ellysa Kenny is the standings leader. She won an all around open title while still a junior but the junior national finals this year at Emerald were her last rodeo as a junior.
One of the reasons for the large nominations in all events at Mt Isa is the large prizemoney on offer and chance for riders to win or place at Mt Isa and boost their chances of a top 15 finish.
The Mt Isa Rodeo will finish with an international challenge between Australia and North America on Sunday afternoon.
The top 15 in each of the eight APRA events will qualify for the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals on October 24-27.
The cut off date for qualification for the national finals is September 30.
At the finals, there will be rounds each night from Thursday to Saturday and then on the Sunday afternoon.
Rodeo program
August 8-11: Mt Isa Rodeo
August 16-17: North Queensland Elite Rodeo, Harvey Range Rd, Townsville
August 17: Darwin Rodeo
August 18: Frontier Days Festival Rodeo, Burketown
August 23: Springsure Working Horse Association Rodeo
August 31: St Brendan's College Rodeo, Yeppoon
Standing Leaders
All Around Cowboy - Terry Evison
Saddle Bronc - Tim Hammond
Bull Ride - Will Purcell
Bareback Bronc - Ben Hall
Rope & Tie - Terry Evison
Steer Wrestling - Tate Van Wel
Team Roping Header - Terry Evison
Team Roping Heeler - Liam Davison
All Around Cowgirl - Ellysa Kenny
Barrel Race - Candy Michaelis
Breakaway Roping - Stacey Wilburn