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QUEENSLANDERS proved the future of rodeo in the Sunshine State is in good hands with wins in two of the three junior events at the National Finals Rodeo at Caboolture.

Mt Tarampa cowgirl Cheyenne Whitwell and Townsville roper Campbell Hodson, of Townsville, were victorious in the battle for the breakaway roping title.

Whitwell went into the NFR after winning the junior high point cowgirl award on the pro tour which ended at Easter.

Hodson was fourth in junior high point cowboy standings and second in breakaway roping but rose to the occasion when it mattered most to win the roping from former Western Australians Jake Malay-Murphy and Sally Malay.

Sally won the junior steer ride title at Caboolture on top of his junior high point cowboy win.

In the next month, Hodson will have the chance to compete in two rodeos close to his north Queensland home, the Nebo Rodeo on May 24 and Bowen River Rodeo on June 7-8.

He will then have the opportunity to compete on the Northern Run where three of the five rodeos in Queensland are on the highway from Townsville to the Northern Territory border at Richmond, Cloncurry and Mt Isa.

After the richest rodeo in Australia at Mt Isa on August 8-10, competitors will have the chance to travel on to the Northern Territory for three rodeos in mid August.

This season, the format for determining title winners will change and the top 15 will receive some carry over points for their success on the pro tour when the National Finals Rodeo starts in May next year.

The 15^th placed riders going into the finals will still have a chance to win a title buckle but will need to perform better at the finals than the pro tour winners.

The bottom line is competitors who do the travelling and finish high in the top 15 will have an advantage in the end-of-season finals which gives Queensland riders the incentive to make the extra effort to compete in the three Northern Territory rodeos in August.

APRA Rodeo Program: May 24 Nebo; May 30 Bundaberg; May 31 Maleny Bull Ride; June 7-8 Bowen River; July 19 Taroom; July 26 Longreach; July 27 Richmond; August 1-3 Cloncurry; August 8-10 Mt Isa; August 16 Darwin (NT); August 22 Daly Waters (NT); August 23 Katherine (NT)

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183