QLD COWGIRLS ARE SOME TO WATCH

Photo of Teal Ayers by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

Photo of Jorja Iker by Dave Ethell – www.dephotos.com.au

SEVEN Queensland cowgirls will head the change from the Sunshine State for championship points in six Australian Professional Rodeo Association events in the next five weeks.

The first rodeo in Queensland since the New Year’s weekend will be at Millmerran on the Darling Downs on Saturday. (February 27)

The Millmerran Show Rodeo has been a great success in recent years with patrons enjoying the timed events during the afternoon and then the saddle bronc, bareback bronc ride and bull ride in a smaller arena in the evening.

Nominations in cowgirl events this year have been outstanding across the board and there is no reason that won’t continue in the final six rodeos for the season in Queensland.

Mt Tarampa rider Cheyenne Whitwell is sixth in barrel race standing with Montana O’Toole from Gracemere eighth and Jamie-Lee Williams from Rockhampton ninth.

Queensland has three riders in the top-10 in breakaway roping.

Jorja Iker from Alton Downs is 3^rd, Roma rider Teal Ayers fourth and past standings leader Jane Willoughby from Warra eighth.

Ayers is sixth in the all around, an outstanding effort on top of junior success at last year’s junior finals.

Moree rider Wendy Caban is third in APRA all around cowgirl standings and will be one of the riders to beat at Millmerran.

After this weekend, some Queensland riders will head to Victoria on the second weekend of March for three rodeos on the Victorian long weekend. Then the focus will be on the Comet Benefit Rodeo in Central Queensland on March 19 and then two lots of rodeo action at both Roma and Emerald at Easter.

The top-15 in all eight APRA championship events will qualify for the Australian Championship finals this year.

RODEO PROGRAM: February 27 Millmerran Show Rodeo (Qld), Narrandera (NSW), Powranna Bull Ride and Rodeo (Tas), Whittlesea (Vic); March 4 Inverell Show Rodeo; March 5 Clare (SA) and Sale (Vic); March 11 Kyabram (Vic); March 12 Merrijig (Vic), Gowrie Park (Tas); March 13 Chiltern (Vic); March 19 Comet Benefit Rodeo (Qld); March 25 Destiny Downs Good Friday Fiesta at Emerald (Qld), Roma Easter in the Country Bullride (Qld), Great Western (Vic); March 26 Emerald Easter Sunflower Festival Rodeo (Qld), Omeo (Vic), Deniliquin Under The Stars Rodeo (NSW); March 27 Roma (Qld), Buchan (Vic), Tocumwal (NSW); March 28 Lang Lang (Vic); April 2 Corryong (Vic); April 22 Moree Show Rodeo (NSW); April 24 Ettamogah Pub, Albury (NSW); April 29 Narrabri Show Rodeo (NSW).

More information APRA 07 4661 8183