HEYFIELD rider Lee Bowker will be one of the favourites for two of the rough stock events at the Sale Rodeo on Saturday March 1.
Bowker is originally from Normanton in Queensland but now lives at Heyfield, Gippsland.
He is 10th in saddle bronc standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association after improving one position in the past month.
Bowker is not in the top 15 in his best event, the bareback bronc ride, so needs a place at Sale to boost his chances of qualification for the National Finals Rodeo in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA).
He is a past champion at the NFR in the APRA.
There are 84 nominations for Sale, including 17 in Barrel Race.
Steer wrestling champion Paul Kenny, Rosedale, will be one to watch in the timed events at Sale along with Victorian pair Gavin Walker and Terry Evison who are two of the timed events stars on the Southern Cross Circuit in Victoria.
The rodeo on Saturday at the Sale Showgrounds is the first professional rodeo in the town for more than a decade.
Promoter Russell Green said many of the best competitors in Australia were making the trek to Sale.
With only two months left in the APRA season which ends on April 30, many competitors are travelling the length and breadth of the east coast in quest of championship points.
The top 15 in each APRA event at the end of the season will qualify for the National Finals Rodeo at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre on May 1-4.
Bucking stock for the Sale Rodeo will be provided by South Australian contractor Noel Fraser.
Some of the top chances in rough stock events include Dean Oliver, Echuca, and Lachlan Mashall, Berrigan.
Sale Rodeo will commence at 5pm.
Victorian Rodeo Program: March 1 Sale; March 7 Kyabram; March 8 Merrijig; March 9 Chiltern; March 22 Ballarat; April 4 Corryong Man from Snowy River Rodeo; April 18 Great Western Rodeo; April 19 Tallangatta, Omeo; April 20 Buchan; April 21 Lang Lang.
More information from APRA on 07 4661 8183.
