RIDERS from six states won events at the start of the Christmas Run in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

The biggest winner was Yeppoon (Queensland) star Errol Frain who won the steer wrestling on successive days at Myrtleford in Victoria and Carrieton in South Australia.

He won at Myrtleford in a time of 4.3 seconds from Jamie Reynolds.

The highest score in rough stock events in the two states was 90 by Wagga Wagga (NSW) rider Sean Lynch to win the bull ride at Myrtleford.

Lynch won from Tooma (NSW) rider and reigning APRA champion Brad Pierce who scored 84.

Pierce had a second trip to the pay window at Myrtleford when he won the saddle bronc with 81 points, two more than runner-up Heath Chalmers from Victoria.

Cody Tyrrell, of Tongala (Vic) won the bareback at Myrtleford with 86, one of the highest scores of the season.

In the rope and tie, Rodney Reynolds (Molyullah, Vic) was victorious.

Griffith (NSW) rider Heath Litchfield joined with Nilma North (Vic) roper Aaron Bookluck to win the rope and tie.

In cowgirl events at Myrtleford, Dusty McPhee (Lurg, Vic) gave the home state a win with victory in the barrel race while Tasmanian star Karen Fish, of Oatlands, won the breakaway roping in 2.25 seconds.

At Carrieton in South Australia, interstate riders secured most of the first placings with Darcy McBean (Katherine, NT) winning the bull ride with a score of 87, the same score of bareback bronc rider winner Tom Willoughby who hails from Alice Springs (NT).

Warwick (Qld) rider Lane Grayson won the double at Carrieton with open and second-division wins in saddle bronc.

Grayson beat South Australian star David Stacey by one point in the open event.

South Australian cowboy Daniel Pearson (Wilmington) won the rope and tie and the team roping win was shared by Glen Perkins and Lee Kimber from Victoria.

Like at Myrtleford, riders from two states won cowgirl events, Stephanie Gard from Table Top (NSW) was first in the barrel race and current APRA champion  Cherie O’Donoghue from Lockington (Vic) won the breakaway roping.

The final three rodeos in the Christmas Run will be at Finley (NSW), Beechworth (Vic) and Carrick (Tas) on the January 8-9 weekend.

PROGRAM: January 8 – Finley (NSW); January 9 – Beechworth (Vic) and Carrick Bull Ride and Rodeo Spectacular (Tas), January 16 – Yarra Valley (Vic); January 26 Harveydale (Tas); January 30 – Wilmington (SA), Ulverstone (Tas) and Wagga Wagga (NSW).

More information APRA 07 4661 8183.