NORTH Queensland rider Clancy Middleton will start his campaign for more pro tour success when he heads to Mitchell for a New Year's Eve Rodeo.
Clancy and wife Tenielle work on the family property at Hughenden and both have qualified for national finals rodeos in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
There will be action in the eight open APRA championship events at Mitchell as well as in juniors. The New Year's Eve Rodeo at Mitchell is the first in Queensland in the new APRA season.
Clancy has won 10 pro tour titles in rope and tie, team roping and steer wrestling as well as an all around cowboy pro tour title for leading money winner in a season.
At Mitchell, he will compete in the rope and tie and team roping after taking a break from steer wrestling due to a back injury.
Tenielle won't be competing as the couple are expecting their third child in February.
Their daughter Heidi, nine, has nominated for the junior barrel race at Mitchell and son Beau, seven, is keen on rodeo and will soon be competing in junior events on the circuit.
Tenielle is likely to return to the saddle for some of the Easter rodeos in Queensland.
Clancy is originally from North Queensland but lived for five years at Emerald where he did a lot of training in his events with close mate Shane Kenny, the most prolific title winner in APRA history.
The Middletons often use their young horses for cattle mustering but once the horses are competing well on the circuit, they are retired from mustering.
"We just do some conditioning work on our rodeo horses," he said.
For the past two years, Moose has been the main horse for Clancy after being bought from Tamworth competitor Ben Smith.
The richest rodeo in the APRA is at Mt Isa and it has been a happy hunting ground for Clancy.
He has won the rope and tie and team roping twice at Mt Isa and has one win in the steer wrestling and all around.
This year, Clancy made the top-15 and national finals in team roping after having one of his quietest years to date.
"I want to compete more in 2020 and make the national finals in the rope and tie and team roping," he said.
Clancy plans to head south for the Victorian long weekend of rodeo action in March to boost his position in the standings.
A national title has eluded him in the APRA but he has been close - four times in steer wrestling and twice in the rope and tie.
"You always want to win the title," Clancy said.
The next action in the APRA will be at the Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo in north east Victoria on Boxing Day.
There are 12 rodeos in five states between Boxing Day and January 11.
Program:
December 26: Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo (Vic)
December 27: Yarrawonga Rodeo (Vic)
December 28: Carrieton Rodeo (SA)
December 30-31: Smithton Rodeo and Stockmans Challenge (Tas)
December 31: Tallangatta Rodeo (Vic)
December 31: Mitchell New Year's Eve Rodeo (Qld)
January 1: Tumbarumba Rodeo (NSW)
January 3: Finley (NSW)
January 4: Wangaratta Wrangler Rodeo Series Round 1 (Vic)
January 5: K Ranch Rodeo (NSW)
January 11: Alexandra Pro Rodeo (Vic)
January 11: Carrick Bull Ride and Rodeo Spectacular (Tas)
