IT will be the best against the best in the rope and tie at The Warwick Rodeo National Finals.
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For the second time in recent years, the Australian Professional Rodeo Association is organising its national finals as part of the most famous rodeo in the nation at Warwick.
Last year, Emerald cowboy Shane Kenny won four APRA title buckles in Warwick, the all around, rope and tie, steer wrestling and team roping.
He goes into this year’s finals with the lead in the rope and tie and sixth in team roping header standings.
Kenny didn’t finish the season in the top-15 in steer wrestling so will be aiming to win another all around title with just two events.
It will be the same for his toughest opposition in the rope and tie, Scone livestock agent Heath Nichols.
Nichols showed he is in form with a win at the Mt Isa Rodeo in the rope and tie and will go into the final in sixth place in the rope and tie and eighth in team roping header standings.
Like Kenny, Nichols missed the steer wrestling final when he finished 19th in the standings.
The four biggest threats to Kenny and Nichols in the battle for the all around title will be Victorian pair Terry Evison and Lee Kimber, and Central Queensland stars Errol Frain and Shane Iker.
Riders carry over points from their pro tour success into The Warwick Rodeo National Finals so those in the top half of the standings have a better chance in the battle for title buckles.
The finals format is designed so every rider in the top-15 has a chance to win a title but the reality is those well down the standings will need to place in each of the four rounds in Warwick.
The top-15 in all eight championship points events will compete in rounds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Warwick as well as a round on the Sunday. There will also be second-division and junior events.
The finals will be held from October 27-30.
