AFTER winning the rope and tie at the Comet Rodeo in late March, Alton Downs cowboy Shane Iker will be one of the favourites for timed events at Emerald and Roma this weekend.

Iker won at Comet with a time of 10.9 seconds from Hughenden rider Clancy Middleton and Victorian star Terry Evison.

He is in fourth place in Australian Professional Rodeo Association rope and tie standings and in the form which could win him some titles late this year at the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships on October 22-25.

Before riders think about Warwick, they are concentrating on winning prize money at eight Easter Rodeos as all money won during the season to April 30 will secure points towards the battle for titles at the Australian championships.

Nomination numbers are well up for the Easter Rodeos with the best cowgirl in the business, Wendy Caban from Moree in New South Wales, heading to Emerald on Easter Saturday and Roma on Easter Sunday where all eight APRA championship events will be contested.

Caban will travel hundreds of kilometres to the Central Highlands for a rodeo for the second time in a fortnight, such is the keenness of competitors to follow a sporting dream. She won the barrel race at Comet and was third in breakaway roping.

The first action of the weekend will be on Good Friday when a bull ride will be held at Roma.

Queensland riders will need to perform well this weekend to maintain their spots in APRA standings as riders from the south have the chance to compete in five rodeos at Easter.

Comet winners: Saddle bronc Greg Hamilton, bull ride Jason Mara, bareback Jake Marshall, rope and tie Shane Iker, steer wrestling Jamie Reynolds, team roping Grant Hanrahan and Jesse Townsend, barrel race Wendy Caban, breakaway roping Fallon Mulhall.

APRA program

April 3 Great Western Rodeo (Vic); April 3 Roma Bull Ride; April 4 Emerald M Group Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo; April 4 Omeo; April 5 Buchan (Vic); April 5 Roma (Qld), April 5 Tocumwal (NSW); April 6 Lang Lang (Vic); April 11 Corryong (Vic); April 25 Alstonville (NSW).

More information or requests for photos to APRA head office on 07 4661 8183.