Taroom rider aims for win at Hay Rodeo in NSW

Stuart is currently in fourth place in APRA rope and tie standings and 25th in team roping heeler standings. He occasionally competes in steer wrestling.

He will also compete in team roping at Hay in teams with his brother James and Corey Heath.

This month, Stuart was third in the rope and tie at Wagga Wagga and fourth in team roping in combination with Heath.

He is working for a builder at Yass and will stay down south until after the Easter Run of rodeos. Stuart will then return to his usual work at Taroom, contract fencing.

Stuart rates the Corryong Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Rodeo on April 4 as his favourite.

He has a personal fastest time in the rope and tie of 8.9 seconds which secured a win at Emerald in Queensland last year.

"I won a rookie title and was first at the Warwick Rodeo in the rope and tie while still a junior," he said.

Stuart and James are grandsons of legendary Taroom cowboy Jimmy McGuire. "A lot of people still talk about Jimmy and his toughness," Stuart said.

At present, Stuart's main horse is 17-year-old Jimmy who is named after his grandfather.

"I have ridden Jimmy for the past two years. My mum Sharon McGuire also competes in breakaway roping on Jimmy," he said.

Stuart has placed in the team roping with James at the richest rodeo in Australia in Mt Isa.

The majority of APRA rodeo in the first three months of the year are in the southern states. Action on the Queensland rodeo circuit will heat up on March 28 with the Clermont Rodeo.

There is a Xtreme Bulls event at Roma and timed event rodeo at Destiny Downs, Emerald, on Good Friday (April 10) followed by a rodeo at Emerald on April 11 and a rodeo at Roma on April 12.

February 29: Hay Rodeo (NSW)

February 29: Whittlesea Pro Rodeo Wrangler Series Round 3 (Vic)

February 29: Lillico (Tas)

March 6: Kyabram 75th Anniversary Rodeo (Vic)

March 7: Merrijig Rodeo (Vic)

March 7: Gowrie Park Rodeo (Tas)

March 8: Chiltern Rodeo (Vic)