MURRURNDI rider Jo Caldwell secured the end of season buckle with a win in the barrel race at the K Ranch Rodeo at Mt Hunter on Saturday.
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Rodeos at Mt Hunter and Bundaberg in Queensland last weekend marked the end of the season for the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA).
The competition has seen riders from across the country compete in the battle for pro tour supremacy.
The top-15 in each of the eight championship events have now qualified for the Warwick Rodeo APRA National Finals on October 26-29 at the Warwick Showgrounds.
In the battle for the all round cowgirl title, Jo Caldwell won narrowly from Cherie O’Donoghue, of Lockington Victoria who was second in breakaway roping at K Ranch.
Last year’s all around cowgirl title winner Shianne O’Donoghue-Kent from Bunyip in Victoria was third in the all around pro tour standings this season.
Caldwell finished the season on top of the barrel racing standings with a clear victory from runner-up, Emerald (Qld) rider Jaimi Downing, and O’Donoghue-Kent.
In breakaway roping, O’Donoghue was first in the standings at the end of the season after a late-season surge put her ahead of Emerald rider Leanne Caban who led for most of the season.
O’Donoghue, a multiple past title winner in the APRA, was first in round 1, second in the final and first overall in breakaway roping at the richest rodeo in Australia at Mt Isa in August.
At Mt Hunter, Scone rider Heath Nichols won the steer wrestling and combined with Clay Bush from Yass to win the team roping.
Competitors will now have a break from competition until the national finals in Warwick at the end of October.