MANY of the best riders from New South Wales and Victoria will head to Rosewood (NSW) on Saturday (December 17) to fine tune their form for the Christmas Run of rodeos in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Rosewood rider Tim Hammond is in the Saddle Bronc and will come up a strong field, including Tooma (NSW) rider and former World Rookie All Around Champion Brad Pierce and Victorian star Heath Chalmers.

Chalmers hails from Beverford and qualified fourth for the National Finals rodeo in Warwick in October where he recorded a second and third in the rounds.

Warwick (Qld) rider Lane Grayson will compete after spending the Australian winter on the North American circuit.

Pierce is currently fifth in Saddle Bronc standings in the APRA and Grayson 18^th. Hammond and Chalmers are both outside the top 20 but would be expected to move up the standings in the next month when there are nine rodeos, including seven on the Christmas Run, starting on Boxing Day at Myrtleford in Victoria.

There are 85 nominations for the Rosewood Rodeo which starts at 5.30pm Saturday at the Rosewood Golf Club. The rodeo is for APRA Championship Points and has attracted 18 riders in the Ladies Barrel Race, including past APRA All Around Cowgirl Champion Stephanie Gard from Albury.

PROGRAM:

December 17 – Rosewood (NSW)

December 26 – Myrtleford Golden Spurs Rodeo (Vic)

December 30 – Carrieton (SA), Yarrawonga (Vic)

December 31 – Mt Isa New Year’s Eve Rodeo (Qld)

January 1 – Tumbarumba (NSW)

January 6 – Finley (NSW)

January 7 – Beechworth (Vic).

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