COWBOYS from Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia won rough stock events at the 2014 Warwick Rodeo.
Warwick and Mt Isa are the two biggest rodeos in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association and there were more than 550 nominations for a rodeo dubbed the most famous in Australia.
Hometown hero Michael Maher won the blue ribbon and buckle for first in the open saddle bronc with a two-round score of 154.5 from New South Wales rider Brad Pierce (Tooma) who was second overall, equal second and third in the rounds.
Maher won a rare saddle bronc double, Warwick and Mt Isa in the same year.
Rhys Angland (Wantabadgery, NSW) and Carl Green (Walcha, NSW) were third overall. Green won the second round with a score of 79
In the Alex Turner Memorial Bareback Bronc ride, Bimboo (WA) cowboy Gerard Oversby and Miles (Qld) rider Clint Burton split first with a combined score of 158.
Wallabadah (NSW) cowboy David Mason was the only rider to make time on two bulls in the open event for an overall win.
He scored 82 in the first round when only four of 48 riders recorded a time and was then the only rider of the four finalists to stay on for eight seconds for a score of 83.
In timed events, Mark Knox from Ebenezer near Ipswich won with a time of 22.95 seconds by .7 of a second from APRA all around leader Shane Kenny. Both rode Kenny’s horse Jellybean at the Warwick Rodeo in a sport where supporting each other is commonplace.
The steer wrestling went down to the wire with Andrew Jansen, of Julia Creek (Qld), winning in 11.3 from Lockington (Vic) and former Queensland rider Lee Kimber who was timed at 11.35.
After enjoying success in North America, NSW riders Ty Parkinson (Moore Creek) and Ben Smith (Moonbi) won the team roping title by two seconds from Shane Iker and Liam Davison both of Alton Downs (Qld).
In cowgirl events, it was a Central Queensland double with Jill Lyons (Gracemere) and Leanne Kenny (Emerald) first and second overall.
Lyons won the first round and Kenny the final with Lyons winning overall with the fastest combined time.
The breakaway roping was also a cliff hanger with Lockington (Vic) star Cherie O’Donoghue, the first round winner, last into the arena and almost catching her steer to stake a claim for an overall win.
Mt Tarampa (Qld) rider Cheyenne Whitwell has won titles in the APRA and added a Warwick title with victory in roping in 9.25 seconds for two head. Chantelle Robbins was second and Rachelle Carlo (Caboolture) third.
For the first time, there was action in rough stock and timed events on four days at the Warwick Rodeo.
The Thursday night program featured many of the highest-ranked riders in timed events and second-division rough stock events. Other than the National Finals Rodeo, Warwick is the only four-day rodeo in the APRA.
WINNERS: Open
Bull ride - David Mason
Saddle bronc - Michael Maher
Bareback - Clint Burton and Gerard Oversby
Rope and tie - Mark Knox
Steer wrestling - Andrew Jansen
Team roping - Ty Parkinson and Ben Smith
Barrel racing - Jill Lyons
Breakway roping - Cheyenne Whitwell
Second division
Saddle bronc Peel Tribe
Bareback Blake Pine
Bull ride Jie Wood
