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DYSART rider Sonny Schafferius will be aiming for back-to-back wins at Bowen River when he contests the third Australian Professional Rodeo Association rodeo of the new season this weekend. (June 6-7)
Roy Dunn was the early leader in the bull ride last season in APRA standings, a lead he maintained until the end of the season on April 30 while Schafferius finished third.
Dunn is now favourite for the APRA title which will be presented after four rounds at the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships on October 22-25.
Schafferius is one of 23 starters in the open bull ride at Bowen River.
His toughest opposition at Bowen River will come from three Queenslanders and one rider from New South Wales.
Sonny Schafferius (Dysart), Ryan Storey (Dingo) and Jason Mara (Kokotungo) have all performed well in the past year.
Wagga Wagga cowboy Sean Lynch is one of the young guns in the APRA and could surprise at Bowen River.
In the saddle bronc, Warwick rider Mark Collins is one of the favourites after winning at Nebo a fortnight ago with 83 points.
Collins will need a similar score if he is going to beat a field including Warwick star Michael Maher who headed the saddle bronc standings at the end of the season.
In the bareback, Toowoomba rider Owen Lee will be one to watch after winning the bareback at Nebo with a score of 79.
All eight APRA championship events will be contested at Bowen River, including the three rough stock events, steer wrestling, three roping events, ladies barrel race as well as second-division and junior events.
The Bowen River Rodeo will be held at the Bowen River Rodeo Grounds and will commence at 9am for both Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th.
Nebo winners: Saddle bronc Mark Collins 83 points, bull ride Damien Herden 86, bareback bronc ride Owen Lee 79, rope and tie Shane Kenny 9.3 seconds, steer wrestling Clancy Middleton 4.15, team roping Campbell Hodson and Brendan Kenny 5.05, barrel race Shellie Miller 15.611, breakaway roping Jane Fay 2.3.
APRA RODEO PROGRAM: June 6-7 Bowen River; July 10 Emerald Bull Ride; July 10-11 Junior National Finals Rodeo at Emerald; July 11 Emerald Rodeo; July 18 Taroom; July 25 Richmond; July 31-August 1 Cloncurry Merry Muster Rodeo; August 7-9 Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo; August 15 Katherine, August 22 Darwin; August 29 Longreach.
More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183
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