GUNNEDAH RIDER WADE CLIFFORD

GUNNEDAH rider Wade Clifford has won his first bareback bronc pro tour buckle in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Clifford won a close battle for the buckle by $1400 prize money from Gore, Queensland, rider Fred Osman.

Both competed in rodeos in both Victoria and Queensland on the Easter long weekend in quest of prize money to boost their pro tour chances.

The top-15 in the standings have qualified for the Jeep National Finals Rodeo at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on June 13-16.

Reigning title holder and former Upper Horton rider Matthew Makinson will be at the NFR but won’t get it all his own way.

On form, Clifford and Osman will take some beating as well as Quirindi rider Darren Clarke who won the aggregate at the Warwick Rodeo last year, one of the top two rodeos on the circuit.

Clarke has enjoyed rodeo success in the United States and is a past title winner in the APRA.

Wandoan, Queensland, rider Dave Worsfold won the richest rodeo on the circuit at Mt Isa last year and like Clarke, has succeeded on the toughest circuit in the United States.

Brock Mulhall is another rider with a Northern New South Wales connection who has qualified for the finals. He goes into the Gold Coast event in fifth place on the standings.

In saddle bronc, Gunnedah cowboy Sam Knight has finished fifth in the standings and will be going for his first title win at the Gold Coast.

Wandoan rider Cameron Webster narrowly beat Tooma rider Brad Pierce to win the 2012-2013 pro tour saddle bronc title.

Webster trailed for most of the season but success in the final six weeks of the season put him $250 in front of Pierce.

Pierce easily won the all around cowboy pro tour buckle after his strong showing in saddle bronc and bull rides.

Victorian timed event star Terry Evison was all around cowboy runner up with Central Queensland pair Shane Iker and Shane Kenny third and fourth and Lockington, Victoria, rider Lee Kimber fifth.

Pierce was pro tour winner in the bull ride from runner-up Jason Mara, of Bouldercombe in Central Queensland.

At the finals, Webster will face some of his toughest opposition from Pierce, Knight, Rhys Angland, Millmerran cowboy Peter Moffatt and South Australian star Glen Kent.

Last year at the richest rodeo in the APRA at Mt Isa, Webster won the first round on Cheyenne Top Girl with a score of 80 and was equal fourth in the final to finish second overall behind Moffatt who won round 2 on Wild Man.

Pierce and Moffatt won the rounds at the famous Warwick Rodeo. Pierce scored 158 points to win the two-round aggregate by one point from Moffatt.

Gundagai rider Adele Edwards has won the APRA all around cowgirl title from Stephanie Gard, of Tabletop, New South Wales.

Tickets for the Jeep National Finals Rodeo are on sale through Ticketek 132849 or on www.ticketek.com.au

More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183
 

Photos by - Dave Ethell - www.dephotos.com.au

                - Barrie Collins - www.collinsphotographics.com.au