SPRINGSURE rider Allan Powell will be one of the saddle bronc riders with the shortest distance to travel when he contests his pet event at the Emerald Rodeo on July 11.

Australian Professional Rodeo Association riders are enjoying a short break from a busy calendar but once Emerald starts, they have the chance to compete in eight rodeos on successive weekends as far away as Darwin.

The Emerald Rodeo is the start of the Northern Run and Powell has already won at Bundaberg in the new season.

He won’t get it all his own way at Emerald with Warwick pair Michael Maher and Mark Collins likely starters after finishing first and second in the APRA season which ended on April 30.

Maher and Collins have already won prize money in the new season.

The biggest battle at Emerald will be the cowboys versus the bulls with a bull ride on the Friday night and then the main open rodeo, including a bull ride, on the Saturday.

None of the riders made time on the bulls at the Bundaberg Rodeo but some of the stars of the sport like Roy Dunn from Proserpine are good odds to win prize money at Emerald.

Sonny Schafferius from Dysart and Dingo rider Ryan Storey are two of the best bull riders in the business so will provide plenty of opposition for Dunn who led the APRA standings at the end of the APRA season.

The Junior National Finals Rodeo will be held on July 10-11 in conjunction with the Emerald Bull Ride and Rodeo and will bring together the top-10 in barrel racing, breakaway roping and the steer ride. Boys and girls go head-to-head in all three events in juniors but there are separate buckles for the high point winners among the cowboys and cowgirls

APRA RODEO PROGRAM: 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; September 12 Pussycat Flats Rodeo, NT.

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183