SCONE rider Heath Nichols flew the New South Wales flag high at the annual Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo.

He won the rope and tie in a two-round time of 23.55 seconds from Emerald pair Shane Kenny (26.1) and Brody Moss (26.2).

Former Upper Horton (NSW) rider Matt Makinson, who is now based in Queensland won the open bareback ride at Mt Isa with a score of 151 over two head, four ahead of runner-up Stuart Frame from Monto in Central Queensland.

There were 615 nominations for the three-day rodeo and it was Warwick (Qld) rider Michael Maher who made it back-to-back victories in the saddle bronc.

He won with 154 points, one ahead of fellow Darling Down rider John McNamee who calls Millmerran home.

Allan Powell of Springsure in Central Queensland was third.

Humpty Doo cowboy Mark Lamberth brought plenty of experience from competing in America to the bull ride and won with a score of 84.

None of the riders stayed on their bulls in the final which meant first-round winner Lamberth was first overall. Brayden Wellby was second on 82.5 with four riders equal third on 82, including current APRA champion Kurt Shepherd from Atherton in North Queensland.

Lamberth will have the chance to compete in his hometown rodeo when the Australia Professional Rodeo Association arrives in town for the August 22 Darwin Rodeo.

In cowgirl events, Jo Caldwell (Murrurundi, NSW)  and Kelly Westlake (Scone, NSW) showed consistent form over three rounds to win the Cloncurry and Mt Isa double.

Cloncurry and Mt Isa rodeos rate with Warwick as the top-three on the circuit and it was an outstanding effort for the two women to win both north-west Queensland rodeos in a 10-day period.

Westlake won at Cloncurry with a time of 2.5 seconds and then had a two round combined time of 8.6 at Mt Isa. Caldwell was timed at 17.46 to win at Cloncurry and then a combined time of 35.035 secured a win at Mt Isa.

Other open winners at Mt Isa were  Chris Cameron and Jace Land (team roping) and Errol Frain (Yeppoon, steer wrestling).

Russell Collins and Adam Purse won the over 55s team roping.

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: August 15 Katherine (NT), August 22 Darwin (NT); September 12 Pussycat Flats Rodeo (NT); October 4 Marrabel (SA); October 10 Rockhampton (Qld); October 21 Hobart Show Bulls and Barrels (Tas); October 22-25 Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships (Qld)..