MOST of the top bull riders in the nation will compete in the Christmas Run of rodeos in New South, Victoria and South Australia.
The first of the Australian Professional Rodeo Association rodeos is the Myrtleford Golden Spurs 60th anniversary rodeo in Victoria on Boxing Day.
Action will move to Carrieton (SA) and Deniliquin (NSW) on December 28 and then Yarrawonga in Victoria on December 30.
There is a rodeo at Tumbarumba (NSW) on January 1 before the APRA action moves to Finley (NSW) on January 3 and Beechworth (Vic) on January 4.
Tooma (NSW) cowboy Brad Pierce has won world rookie all around and bull riding titles and will almost feel at home when he competes on the bull Red River at Myrtleford on Boxing Day.
He will face tough opposition at Myrtleford from Upper Horton cowboy Troy Wilkinson (NSW) who won the bull ride in one of the top two rodeos in the APRA at Warwick on the last weekend in October.
Wilkinson was the only rider in a field of 60 to ride time on two bulls at Warwick.
Current APRA champion Rhys Angland, of Wantabadgery (NSW) has drawn Nightstalker while Victorian star Toby Collins will aim to go eight seconds on Dark Knight.
Both are strong chances to feature in the placings.
Mr Collins hails from Maldon and won the saddle bronc ride at Warwick straight after returning from competition in America.
He is one of the few cowboys in the APRA who competes in all three rough stock events.
After winning titles in the APRA down the years, South Australian cowboy Glen Kent will be aiming to move up from his current 7th on the saddle bronc standings with a placing at Myrtleford.
He has drawn the horse Snakes Alive in the first rodeo on the Christmas Run.
All seven Christmas Run rodeos are for APRA championship points as riders aim to make the top 15 and qualify for the National Finals Rodeo at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre at Caboolture on May 1-4, 2014.
A strong field of cowgirls at Myrtleford will be headed by Lockington rider Cherie O'Donoghue, the current APRA all around cowgirl champion.
There are strong nominations for all seven rodeos on the Christmas Run with some riders even planning to catch a plane north to compete in the New Year's Eve Rodeo at Nebo in North Queensland in between Christmas Run commitments.
