After travelling to rodeos at Gresford, Branxton, Stroud, Geurie, Mendooran, Armidale and locally, Nick and Chris Wilson qualified for the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) national finals last week.

The two brothers competed in the eight and under 11 poddy ride and proved they will be competitors to be aware of in the future.

The duo, who spend a lot of time at their grandparents property at Parkville, were introduced to the sport of rodeo by friends Roger and Luke Parkinson (winner of the 2011 ABCRA Poddy Riding title).

When speaking to The Scone Advocate this week both boys were ecstatic with their performance.

Chris, nine, won the first round of the finals poddy ride with 76 points earning him a victory lap on the Jack Daniels winners ute, followed by a 66 on the second night and 72 points on the final night placing him third.

He and his older brother, Nick, 12, and Parkinson were the only youngsters to ride all three head throughout the three rounds of finals’ competition.

In the finals’ average point score, Chris placed second overall as well as taking out the highest cumulative score over the three rounds with Thomas Hudson.

Older brother Nick took out the average across the three finals’ rounds winning a buckle and a voucher.

On the first night, Nick scored 69 points, followed by 75 points and second place in round two.

In the final round last Monday night, Nick was equal first with Cassilis’ Taine Nash on 75 points.

The brothers, who also compete at pony club with their two sisters Anna and Katrina, were thrilled with their result and said they have really enjoyed it.

They will continue to rodeo competing at Cassilis Rodeo on Saturday where Nick will advance to the 11 and under 14 steer ride.

The brothers thanked their family for supporting them as well as Dave Wicks, the Richardson family, Dane Gallagher, Jono Couling, Jade Smith, the Parkinson family, the Foreman family and Matt Holstein.

“We’ve had a lot of helpers and we want to thank them,” Nick said.