MURRURUNDI rider Jo Caldwell is the early season leader in all around cowgirl standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
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She heads the category from Queenslander Bridie Davison and is $3 prizemoney ahead of another Queensland competitor, Jaimi Downing, in a close battle for the lead in the barrel race.
At the annual Cloncurry Rodeo, Caldwell won the barrel race from Downing and went on to finish second behind Downing in the overall barrel race placings at Mt Isa.
She boosted her position in the all around standings with a third in a round of the breakaway roping.
Other New South Wales riders in the top three in APRA standings include Scone’s Heath Nichols, 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 a year remaining to maintain her form and finish on top of the pro tour standings.
As Warwick has been confirmed home of the national finals for the foreseeable future, APRA will move the end of the standings year to September 30 from 2017, which means the top 15 (finalists) will only be determined a month before the decider.
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.
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)
