QLD HOLDS TOP SPOTS IN STEER WRESTLING

Photo of Errol Frain by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

Photo of Shane Iker by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

Photo of George Wheeler by Stephen Mowbray – www.stephenmowbrayphotography.com

IT might be the humidity or the water but Queensland cowboys have a mortgage on steer wrestling in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Queensland riders are in the top eight positions and occupy 12 of the top-15 spots in APRA standings.

Fifteen is a magic number in the APRA, the number of riders who qualify for the National Finals in each of the eight championship events.

Many might expect the leaders in steer wrestling to be from the country and that is the case with top-two Errol Frain from Yeppoon and Shane Iker from Alton Downs.

Two of the Queensland steer wrestling stars live in the south-east corner, George Wheeler, of Woodford, who is third in the standings, and Caboolture rider Jordan O’Neill in 14^th place.

Two riders, placed between 13^th and 15^th are just in the top-15 but have the ability to move quickly up the standings.

Defending champion, Emerald rider Shane Kenny, is 13^th and Lockington (Victoria) star Terry Evison 15^th and are both capable of moving into the top-10 and easy qualification for the finals.

Most of the Queensland stars will be in action in the Millmerran Rodeo on Saturday (February 27) and then the Comet Benefit Rodeo on March 19.

There will be even more opportunities in Queensland at Easter with championship points rodeo at Emerald and Roma and a timed events Good Friday Fiesta at Destiny Downs, Emerald. Roma has a Good Friday bull ride as well.

There are 166 nominations for Millmerran Rodeo including Jorja Iker (Alton Downs) in the ladies barrel race and David Worsfold (Wandoan) in the open bareback.

STEER WRESTLING LEADERS: 1 Errol Frain QLD, 2 Shane Iker QLD, 3 George Wheeler QLD, 4 Clancy Middleton QLD,  5 Jamie Reynolds QLD, 6 Kacey Kenny QLD, 7 Cody Sheahan QLD, 8 Mark Gibb QLD, 9 Gavin Walker VIC, 10 Heath Nichols NSW, 11 Cameron Bell QLD, 12 Ryley Gibb QLD, 13 Shane Kenny QL, 14 Jordan O'Neill QLD, 15 Terry Evison VIC.

RODEO PROGRAM: February 27 Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld), Narrandera (NSW), Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas), Whittlesea (Vic); March 4 Inverell Show Rodeo; March 5 Clare (SA) and Sale (Vic); March 11 Kyabram (Vic); March 12 Merrijig (Vic), Gowrie Park (Tas); March 13 Chiltern (Vic); March 19 Comet Benefit Rodeo (Qld); March 25 Destiny Downs Good Friday Fiesta at Emerald (Qld), Roma Easter in the Country Bullride (Qld), Great Western (Vic); March 26 Emerald Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo (Qld), Omeo (Vic), Deniliquin Under The Stars Rodeo (NSW); March 27 Roma (Qld), Buchan (Vic), Tocumwal (NSW); March 28 Lang Lang (Vic); April 2 Corryong (Vic); April 22 Moree Show Rodeo (NSW); April 24 Ettamogah Pub, Albury (NSW); April 29 Narrabri Show Rodeo (NSW).

More information APRA 07 4661 8183