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RODEO competitors will get the chance to warm up for the Australian Professional Rodeo Association National Finals Rodeo when riders from across the nation compete at the Wandoan Showgrounds on October 23.

Four-times APRA bareback bronc title winner Dave Worsfold heads a committee which is running the first professional rodeo in the town for many years.

The top 120 riders in eight events will qualify for the national finals in the last week in October so will use the Wandoan Rodeo a week earlier as their main warm-up event.

Some of the best riders in Australia will compete at Wandoan, including world championship winning saddle bronc rider Brad Pierce from Tooma in New South Wales.

Rodeo committee member Sharna Worsfold said there would be three junior events, breakaway roping, barrel racing and steer riding.

“We will have both open and second -division events in saddle bronc, bareback bronc and the bull ride,” Sharna said.

Wandoan saddle bronc rider Cameron Webster will be one of the favourites for his event after winning one Australian title in the APRA.

Greg Hamilton (Mitchell) and Tom Webster (Injune) are almost certain to compete in saddle bronc at Wandoan.

Dave Worsfold holds the APRA record of 91 points in bareback and will start favourite but will face tough opposition from Victorian rider Jarrod McKane.

His wife Sharna hasn’t competed for two years due to family commitment and will return to the sport during the Northern Run which includes eight rodeos in July and August.

She will compete in the barrel race at Wandoan on October 23 in a likely field of up to 40 riders.

Their daughter Rainey Worsfold, 2, is already showing a great interest in riding while Darcee, 10 months, is a couple of years away from riding around at a rodeo.

“Rodeo means a lot of our whole family,” Sharna said.

Nebo tie

THREE cowboys tied for first in the rope and tie at the Nebo Rodeo in North Queensland on Saturday.

Emerald rider Shane Kenny, Mark Knox from Ebenezer and New South Wales star Heath Nicholls split first at Nebo where there were more than 300 nominations.

Interstate riders won all three rough stock events at Nebo.

Tom Knight (NSW) was first in saddle bronc, Victorian rider Jarrod McKane headed the scores in bareback bronc riding, and Kelsey Pavlou (NSW) was the winner of the bull ride. Only five of the 16 bull riders made time on bucking stock from the Darren Brandenburg string.

Ben Smith (NSW) and Brody Moss (Qld) were first in team roping.

New South Wales rider Jesse Glass won the steer wrestling.

In ladies events, Suzie Fearon from Townsville was the barrel racing winner and Jorja Iker from Alton Downs was first in breakaway roping.

Organiser Jarrod Deguara said only 22 tickets were unsold to a crowd of 5000.

“We had a lot of support from Mackay rodeo fans,” he said.

“Money raised will go to the Central Queensland Rescue Chopper and local schools.”

APRA Rodeo program

June 26: Emerald Rodeo

July 9: Gracemere Timed Events Rodeo

July 17: Taroom Rodeo

July 24: Charters Towers Rodeo

July 31: Richmond Rodeo