She won the cowgirls double at Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo in north-east Victoria on Boxing Day 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 equal second.

Junee 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.”

One of the success stories from Victoria at Myrtleford was Glen Perkins, of Balliang, who won the rope and tie with a time of 5.6 seconds.

The 70^th Tumbarumba Rodeo on New Year’s Day in New South Wales has attracted many of the best competitors in the nation including Maldon (Victoria) rider Toby Collins who won the bareback at Myrtleford, 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.

Each of the four New Year’s Rodeos have attracted more than 200 nominations and all are for championship points in the APRA.

The Finley Rodeo is on January 2 and Beechworth and Deniliquin rodeos 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.