BALLIANG cowboy Glen Perkins is one of the Victorian stars during the Christmas Run of rodeos in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Perkins won the rope and tie at the Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo in north-east Victoria on Boxing Day with a time of 5.6 from fellow Victorian Kenny Flanagan, of St Arnaud.

The Rock (NSW) rider Michael Reynolds was third and Stuart McGuire Spalding, of Taroom (Qld) fourth.

There are four rodeos on the Christmas Run in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association during the New Year weekend including the January 3 rodeo at Beechworth.

There is a strong field for the December 30 rodeo at Yarrawonga, the last for 2014.

Table Top (NSW) rider Stephanie Gard  won the cowgirls double at Myrtleford and the silver spurs for best performed woman at the rodeo.

Gard was seventh in APRA all around standings at the start of the Christmas Run and is likely to move into the top-three if she maintains her current form in the New Year at Tumbarumba, Finley and Deniliquin rodeos in New South Wales and Beechworth in Victoria.

The Angland brothers from Wantabadgery (NSW) also hit form at Myrtleford with Rhys winning the saddle bronc and Cody finishing equal second.

Junee (NSW) rider Matt Hedlund continued his strong form with a win in the steer wrestling.

Queensland rider Roy Dunn, of Proserpine, won the bull ride and the Golden Spurs for most successful cowboy at the rodeo.

Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo Committee past president Ben Browne said the rodeo went well and attracted a record crowd.

“We usually make between $15,000 and $20,000 at the rodeo and all money goes to the Myrtleford Lions Club for community projects in the area,” he said.

“We had perfect weather for a perfect event.”

The 70^th Tumbarumba Rodeo on New Year’s Day in New South Wales has attracted 281 nominations, including many of the best competitors in the nation. Three of the best include Maldon (Victoria) rider Toby Collins who won the bareback at Myrtleford, bull ride standings leader Dunn, and hometown hero Ben Hall who has drawn the horse Cowgirl Charm in the bareback and War Chief in the bull ride.

There are 36 cowgirls in the barrel race at Tumbarumba and 30 in breakaway roping.

Most of the riders heading to Tumbarumba will line up again at Beechworth in Victoria on January 3.

RESULTS – MYRTLEFORD

Saddle bronc – 1 Rhys Angland 85 points, 2 Heath Chalmers 81/Cody Angland 81, 4 John McNamee 78

Bareback bronc – 1 Toby Collins 79, 2 Deon Lane 78, 3 Ben Hall 75, 4 David Worsfold 74

Barrel race – 1 Stephanie Gard 17.17, 2 Shianne O’Donoghue Kent 17.18, 3 Tamlin Osborne 17.4, 4 Jill Lyons 17.45

Breakaway roping – 1 Stephanie Gard 2.8, 2 Latteliah De Spirt 3.03, 3 Ariana Varschetti 34.9, 4 Leslie Moore 4.1.

Rope and tie – 1 Glen Perkins 5.6, 2 Kenny Flanagan 5.75, 3 Michael Reynolds 11.5, 4 Stuart McGuire Spalding 17.4.

Steer wrestling – 1 Matt Hedland 4.78, 2 Dean Hensley 5.75, 3 Lee Kimber 6.9, 4 Rinsie Jamieson 12.57.

Team roping – 1 Shane Mirans and Kenny Flanagan 9.02, 2 Sally Malay and Andrew McQualter-Whyte 12.2, 3 Cameron Bell and Cameron Milner 14.12, 4 Cherie O’Donoghue and Daniel Kapeller 16.24.

Bull ride – Round 1 and aggregate 1 Roy Dunn 85, 2 Jackson Gill 78, 3 Toby Collins 75, 4 Adam Hinkley 72. (No scores in round 2)

APRA PROGRAM: January 1 Tumbarumba (NSW), January 2 Finley (NSW); January 3 Beechworth (Vic) and Deniliquin (NSW).

More information or requests for more photos to APRA office 07 4661 8183.