BULL riders from New South Wales and Queensland head the standings going into the Xtreme Bulls Finals at Macquarie Inn, Dubbo, on Saturday. (Feb 25)

There are 16 finalists and each will be drawn in two bull riding rounds from 7.30pm Saturday. Gates open at 6.30pm and tickets will be for sale at the gate.

Upper Horton (NSW) rider Troy Wilkinson won $4000 for his win in the last round of the Xtreme Bulls at Penrith a fortnight ago and is the favourite to win the title.

Wilkinson is a past Australian Professional Rodeo Association Champion so has proved he can handle the pressure of Finals.

Xtreme Bulls organiser Simon Cresswell is based at Dubbo and said a lot of the big names in Bull Rriding had competed in the series.

“Our crowds have averaged 2000 during the series. We had 29 bull riders in the last event at Penrith and attracted a high of 36 cowboys for bull rides during the series,” he said.

“We have had good support in metropolitan as well as country areas.”

“Cowboys have also been attracted to the series as prize money won in the Xtreme Bulls also goes towards APRA Championship Points.”

Wilkinson leads the Xtreme Bulls Series from Hunter Valley rider Trefor Sproule and Jake Whalan who will travel from Giru in North Queensland.”

One rider to watch is current APRA  Standings Leader Jared Borghero from Beaudesert in Queensland. Borghero won the Open Bull Ride at last year’s Mt Isa Rodeo so has form on the board.

Past APRA champion Jason O’Hearn from Rothbury, NSW, is another with a strong chance to place in the Finals.

The cowboys competing at Dubbo this weekend have the chance to win an extra $2000 if they can ride bounty bull Crash from the Gill Brothers string.

“Crash hasn’t been ridden in his Bull Riding career and if a cowboy rides him on Saturday, he will win $2000 from Civil Logic,” Cresswell said.

As well as prizemoney, the winner will receive a Bob Berg buckle at the Xtreme Bulls Finals at Dubbo. Money already won in this season’s Xtreme Bulls carries into the Finals so the top three have the best chance of winning the title buckle.

This Saturday will be massive in the APRA with rodeos at Narrandera (NSW), Whittlesea (Vic) and the Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo in Tasmania.

There are three rodeos on March 4, the Millmerran Show Rodeo in Queensland, Clare Rodeo in South Australia and Sale Rodeo in Victoria.

APRA PROGRAM:

February 25: Narrandera (NSW)

February 25: Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas)

February 25: Xtreme Bulls Finals, Dubbo (NSW)

February 25: Whittlesea (Vic)

March 4: Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld)

March 4: Clare Rodeo (SA)

March 4: Sale Rodeo (Vic)

More information on all rodeos from APRA on 07 4661 8183. Information on Xtreme Bulls from Cresswell on 0419 019440.