Rodeo action moves to Kyabram, Merrijig, Gowrie Park and Chiltern

RODEO action will hot up in Victoria this weekend with almost 900 nominations for the three long weekend rodeos in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

There are 328 nominations for the Kyabram Rodeo on Friday night (March 11), 263 for Merrijig on Saturday and 300 for Chiltern on Sunday.

The 122 nominations for the Gowrie Park Rodeo in Tasmania on Saturday will take the total numbers this weekend to more than 1000.

This weekend’s action will be crucial for competitors aiming to qualify for the top 15 in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and qualification for The Warwick Rodeo National Finals in late October. The season ends on April 30 and the best chances for riders to amass prize money and championship points is this weekend in Victoria and then in Queensland and Victoria at Easter.

Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent from Bunyip (Vic) is the current leader in barrel racing standings in the APRA and will be hard to beat at all three rodeos especially after her win at the Clare Rodeo in South Australia at the weekend.

There will be eight saddle bronc riders from Queensland competing in the three Victorian rodeos, such is the keenness to win money close to the end of the current season.

APRA executive chairman Lee Kimber, of Lockington (Vic) is delighted with the large entries for this weekend’s rodeos.

“There are more entries for each rodeo this weekend than for the Christmas Run rodeos,” he said.

“With the announcement that the finals will be in Warwick, there is a lot of interest from competitors wanting to make it in the top-15 for the finals,” he said.

“While the finals format is designed that anyone in the top-15 can win a title, the riders in the top-five have the inside running as they will carry the most championship points from their pro tour success into the finals,” Kimber said.

Away from his role in rodeo administration, Kimber is one of the best competitors in the APRA and will compete this weekend fresh from a win in the steer wrestling at Clare in a time of four seconds.

Jodi King will be one of the riders to watch at Gowrie Park in Tasmania. She is in a field of 25 in the open barrel race. There are another 14 riders in the junior barrel race. All eight championship events will be held at Gowrie Park, including the saddle bronc ride, bareback bronc ride and bull ride.

Kyabram Rodeo, 11th March will commence at 7:00pm at the Kyabram Showgrounds.

Merrijig Rodeo, 12th March starts at 6:30pm at McCormack Park.

Gowrie Park Rodeo is held at 1415 Claude Rd, Gowrie Park from 4:30pm on 12th March.

Chiltern Rodeo action will commence from 6:00pm 13th March at the Chiltern Racecourse Reserve.

RODEO PROGRAM: 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