ROSEDALE cowboy Terry Evison has the chance to move up Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings when he contests the timed events at the Warragul Rodeo on February 1.
The Peter Evison Memorial Rodeo, being held in memory of Terry's father, will be held at the Warragul Showgrounds.
"Dad taught me nearly everything about rodeo," Terry said.
"This rodeo is one of the best in the APRA, I expect a lot of riders from interstate will compete."
While Peter competed successfully in the rope and tie and team roping, his son has added the steer wrestling to his program.
Terry was fifth at the beginning of January in APRA all around standings, fourth in both steer wrestling and the rope and tie, and seventh in team roping heeler standings.
He is a previous winner of the APRA all around, rope and tie, steer wrestling and team roping pro tour titles for most prize money won in a season.
Terry Evison and Benalla rider Gavin Walker are the top two cowboys from Victoria in the APRA this season.
Walker is fourth in all around standings, third in steer wrestling, fifth in team roping header standings and sixth in the rope and tie.
Three of the past APRA title winners in action will be Terry Evison, Nilma North team roper Aaron Bookluck and current all around cowgirl champion Cherie O'Donoghue who will travel from Lockington for the rodeo at
Warragul.
Three of the open barrel racers who could feature in the prize money will be Ruth O'Donoghue, of Bunyip, and her daughters Shianne and Montana O'Donoghue-Kent.
Elise Milner (Darnum), Michelle Peters (Rosedale), Kellie Heyne (Rosedale), Debbie Kenny (Rosedale) and Rebecca Heggaton (Sale) are some of the locals set to go for prize money in the open barrel race at Warragul.
The O'Donoghue-Kent sisters will also compete in the junior barrel race along with Shania Willemson, of Garfield, Bayles rider Brittany Adams and Sarah Hales, of Narracan.
Elley Hulls (Leongatha) and Melissa Wilburn (Sale) are two of the cowgirls set to contest both the barrel race and breakaway roping.
Hulls will also compete in team roping, the one open event where men and women can go head to head on the APRA circuit.
Brett Ryan, Paul Kenny and Peter Kenny will be three of the riders from the Gippsland area who will compete in timed event at Warragul.
Many of the best rough stock riders from across Australia will compete at Warragul as the event is for APRA championship points and competitors are aiming to finish in the top 15 to qualify for the APRA National Finals Rodeo
at Caboolture in Queensland on May 1-4.
One of the Gippsland riders to watch will be former star rough stock rider Jayden Boulton who now competes in team roping.
Lee Bowker, of Heyfield, will be one of the favourites in rough stock events.
