ONLY one rodeo remains in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association before the end of the 2019 season.
There is plenty of interest in the last rodeo on the circuit at Gargett on September 21 as some riders need a win or place to make the top-15 and qualify for the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals on October 24-27 at the Warwick Showgrounds.
In a change from last year, the nationals final will finish with the fourth round on the Sunday of the Warwick Rodeo. Last year, the final round was on the Saturday night.
Competitors from 10th place and below are likely to need a place in all four rounds to press for a title win as competitors are credited with pro tour earnings from the season at the start of the national finals. The first three rounds will be on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Queensland rider Tate Van Wel has taken the lead in steer wrestling standings and will go into the final as favourite.
There are four standings leaders from Queensland, Van Wel, rope and tie standings leader Campbell Hodson, all around and breakaway roping leader Ellysa Kenny and barrel racing star Chantel Huddy.
In rough stock events, NSW rider Tim Hammond is on top of the standings in saddle bronc. Ben Hall, NSW, leads the bareback standings and Victorian star Will Purcell is first in bull ride standings.
Victorian pair Terry Evison and Aaron Bookluck are past champions in team roping and are again at the top of the standings.
Evison leads team roping header standings from the most successful cowboy in APRA history Shane Kenny, of Emerald..
Rope and tie leader Campbell Hodson, Emerald, is third in team roping header standings followed by Queenslanders Shane Iker, Darcy Kersh and Clancy Middleton.
In team roping heeler standings, Bookluck is the leader from Queensland rider Liam Davidson.
NSW pair Clay Bush and Corey Heath are third and fourth ahead of Victorian pair Kenny Organ and Evison.
Evison shows his ability by being in the top 15 in both header and heeler standings.
The cowboys in the top 15 in header placings and the top 15 in heeler work out between themselves who they are going to partner in the finals in Warwick.
