IKER CROWNED ALL AROUND COWBOY AT NFR

Photo of Shane Iker by Mike Kenyon – www.kenyonsportsphotos.com.au    

Photo of Mark Knox by Mike Kenyon – www.kenyonsportsphotos.com.au

ALTON Downs cowboy Shane Iker has recorded five placings in The Carlton Dry Warwick Rodeo National Finals to win the All Around Cowboy title in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Iker won All Around Championships in 2008 and 2014 so made it three titles in eight years with his victory in Warwick at the weekend.

Iker joined with Charters Towers rider Liam Davison to record a win, second and third in team roping at the National Finals to finish second in the average. Iker secured the team roping header title narrowly from Griffith (NSW) rider Heath Litchfield. The All Around Champion also recorded a second and third in the rope and tie.

Ebenezer cowboy Mark Knox won his third APRA rope and tie title in the past seven years and the fourth in his career when he finished the finals with a win, second, third and fourth in the rounds to win the average from Iker. Knox finished ahead of defending champion Shane Kenny of Emerald in the battle for the title.

Queensland riders also won two titles in rough stock events.

Millmerran rider John McNamee finished the season on top of the standings in saddle bronc and narrowly won the title from Springsure rider Allan Powell who won two rounds in Warwick. Powell won the average which is determined by the highest total score over the four rounds of the finals. McNamee won the Saturday night round with a score of 80.

Defending champion David Worsfold from Wandoan retained the bareback bronc riding title with two round wins and also won the finals average. Cameron's Corner rider Fred Osman won the other two rounds.

Other finals round winners from Queensland included saddle bronc rider Cameron Webster (Wandoan), rope and tie competitors Shane Kenny (Emerald) and Mitch Eastwell (Warwick) and steer wrestler Jarrod Deguara (Nebo).

Team ropers Jace Land (Charters Towers) and Brenton Bell (Gracemere) won two rounds in team roping to finish third in the average.

In cowgirl events, the Queensland round winners were Teal Ayers (Roma) and Jorja Iker (Alton Downs) in breakaway roping.

In the bull ride, the bulls won the battle with the top-15 riders in Australia with only two riders making time on Friday night and one on Saturday night.

Katherine (NT) rider Darcy McBean was the only rider to stay on three bulls for eight seconds and easily won the average. McBean narrowly won his first title at age 20 from Upper Horton (NSW) rider Troy Wilkinson who won two rounds with the highest scores of the finals, 87 and 82.

At age 21, Shianne O'Donoghue-Kent from Bunyip won the all around cowgirl title and was a runaway winner in the barrel race with two round wins.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS

All Around Cowboy Title - Shane Iker (Alton Downs, Qld)

All Around Cowgirl - Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic)

Saddle Bronc - Title winner John McNamee (Millmerran, Qld); top average in finals over four rounds Allan Powell (Springsure, Qld) 299 points

Bull Ride - Title winner Darcy McBean (Katherine, NT); top average in finals Darcy McBean (Katherine, NT) 232 points

Bareback Bronc - Title winner David Worsfold (Wandoan, Qld); top average in finals David Worsfold (Wandoan, Qld) 304 points

Rope & Tie - Title winner Mark Knox (Ebenezer, Qld); top average in finals

Mark Knox (Ebenezer, Qld) 48.5 seconds

Steer Wrestling - Title winner Clay Bush (Yass, NSW); top average in finals

Clay Bush (Yass, NSW) 36.35

Team Roping Header - Title winner Shane Iker (Alton Downs, Qld)

Team Roping Heeler - Title winner Aaron Bookluck (Nilma North, Vic)

Team Roping Top finals average - Heath Litchfield (Griffith, NSW) and Aaron

Bookluck (Nilma North, Vic) 47.25

Barrel Race - Title winner Shianne O'Donoghue-Kent (Bunyip, Vic); top average in finals Shianne O'Donoghue-Kent 72.361

Breakaway Roping - Title winner Rebecca Van Houten (Tullakool, NSW);

topaverage in finals Rebecca Van Houten (Tullakool, NSW) 15 seconds on three head

National Finals Rodeo Average All Around Cowgirl - Cherie O'Donoghue (Lockington, Vic)

NFR Average All Around Cowboy - Clay Bush (Yass, NSW)