| NEXT RODEO: |
| JULIA CREEK XTREME BULLS DIRT AND DUST FESTIVAL, QLD | APRIL 19 | ENTRY DATES: 10/11 April |
| FESTIVAL OF FALLING LEAF TUMUT RODEO 2024 NSW | APRIL 20 | ENTRY DATES: 10/11 April |
| MOREE SHOW RODEO | APRIL 26 | ENTRY DATES: 17/04/2023-18/08/2024 |
| HOMEBUSH RODEO, BALRANALD NSW | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/18 April |
| GARGETT RODEO, QLD | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/18 April |
| ALPHA RODEO QLD | APRIL 27 | ENTRY DATES: 17/04-18/04 |
| HUGHENDEN RODEO, FESTIVAL OF THE OUTBACK SKIES QLD | MAY 03 | ENTRY DATES: 23/24 April |
| NARRABRI RODEO, NSW | MAY 03 | ENTRY DATES: 23/04-24/04 |
| BLACKWATER MEU MAY DAY RODEO - QLD | MAY 04 | ENTRY DATES: April 23/24 |
| M5 MELBOURNE MUSTER PRO RODEO | MAY 04 | ENTRY DATES: 23/04-24/04 |
Photo of Jo Caldwell by Cherie Ryan – www.purplefairy.net.au
Photo of Heath Nichols by Stephen Mowbray – www.stephenmowbrayphotography.com
MURRURUNDI (NSW) rider Jo Caldwell is the early season leader in all around cowgirl standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
Caldwell leads the all around from Queensland rider Bridie Davison and is $3 prize money ahead of another Queensland rider, Jaimi Downing, in a close battle for the lead in the barrel race.
At the annual Cloncurry Rodeo in early August, Caldwell won the barrel race from Downing and went on to finish second behind Downing in the overall barrel race placings at Mt Isa.
Caldwell boosted her position in the all around standings with a third in a round of the breakaway roping at Mt Isa.
Other New South Wales riders in the top three in APRA standings include Heath Nichols, of Scone, who is second in the rope and tie and Ben Smith (Moonbi) who is third in team roping header standings.
With the new APRA season going for 17 months, Caldwell has more than 12 months left to maintain her form and finish the season on top of the pro tour standings.
As Warwick has been confirmed home of the national finals for the foreseeable future, the APRA will move the end of the standings year to September 30 from 2017 which will mean the top-15 (finalists) will only be determined a month before the national finals.
The next three APRA rodeos in New South Wales are scheduled in November and December.
The Rouse Hill Xtreme Bulls are on November 19, the Leppington Xtreme Bulls on November 26 and the Rosewood (NSW) Rodeo on December 17.
Standings leaders in new season: All around Shane Kenny (Emerald), saddle bronc Michael Maher (Warwick), bull ride Jared Borghero (Alton Downs), bareback David Worsfold (Wandoan), rope and tie Mark Knox (Ebenezer), steer wrestling Lachlan O’Neill (Caboolture), team roping header Shane Kenny (Emerald), team roping heeler Cameron Milner (Townsville), all around cowgirl Jo Caldwell (Murrurundi), barrel race Jo Caldwell (Murrurundi), breakaway roping Leanne Caban (Emerald).
APRA Program: October 2 Marrabel (SA) 79th Rodeo; October 19 Hobart Bulls and Barrels (Tas); October 27-30 The Carlton Dry Warwick Rodeo National Finals.
November 5 Keith (SA), Melton Mowbray (Tas), November 12 Kapunda (SA); November 19 Rouse Hill Xtreme Bulls (NSW)
December 3 Leppington Xtreme Bulls (NSW); December 17 Rosewood Rodeo (NSW).
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