QUEENSLAND can claim to be the top rodeo state in the nation after riders from the Sunshine state topped seven of the 11 standings lists in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

The biggest battle for a standings lead for the season to April 30 was in all around cowboys where Victorian cowboy Terry Evison made a late charge to pip Emerald rider Shane Kenny.

Standings are determined by money won and Evison stormed home on the back of success in many of the Victorian rodeos early this year.

While he didn’t finish the season in the lead in any individual event standings lists, Evison has qualified in the top-15 for rope and tie, steer wrestling and team roping for the Warwick Rodeo Australian Championships on October 22-25.

Kenny has also made it through in three events and will be hot favourite for the rope and tie at Warwick.

In the past 24 years, Kenny has won 10 rope and tie titles in the APRA and easily topped the standings in the season to April 30 which boosts his championship chances.

Riders receive one point for every dollar won in the season going into the four rounds of the championships in Warwick.

Warra rider Jane Fay finished the season with the standings lead and an equal record when she won the breakaway roping at Alstonville in 1.8 seconds, a time which equalled the record set last year by Kym Ash, at Comet.

Queensland riders led at the end of the season in all rough stock events, Michael Maher (Warwick) in saddle bronc, Roy Dunn (Proserpine) in the bull ride and David Worsfold (Wandoan) in the bareback.

In team roping, Clancy Middleton (Hughenden) made the most money all season among the headers and Brody Moss, of Emerald, headed the standings among the heelers.

Former Kalbar (Qld) and now Lockington (Vic) rider Lee Kimber led the steer wrestling standings at season’s end.

Bunyip (Vic) rider Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent led the barrel race standings from Central Queensland rider Jill Lyons and led the all around from Table Top (NSW) star Stephanie Gard.

While the Australian championships are not to October, riders will have the chance starting at Nebo on May 23 to secure a top-15 spot in the standings early in the new season.

Alstonvile open winners: Saddle bronc – Mark Collins 72

Bull ride – Jack McArthur 168

Bareback ride – Owen Lee 142

Rope and tie – Cal Baker 10.8

Steer wrestling –Thomas Durbridge 4.95

Team roping – Troy Caban and Luke Taylor 6.05

Barrel racing – Jo Caldwell 14.56

Breakaway roping – Jane Fay 1.8

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: May 23 Nebo; May 29 Bundaberg Show Rodeo; June 6-7 Bowen River; July 10 Emerald Bull Ride; July 10-11 Junior National Finals Rodeo at Emerald; July 11 Emerald Rodeo; July 18 Taroom; July 25 Richmond; July 31-August 1 Cloncurry Merry Muster Rodeo; August 7-9 Mt Isa Rotary Rodeo; August 15 Katherine, August 22 Darwin; August 29 Longreach.

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183