TWO Victorians lead the all around standings in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association after the first month of the new season.
Tongala rider Cody Tyrrell is the top cowboy overall after the early season rodeos in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
The 2012 season officially started at Myrtleford on Boxing Day.
Tyrrell is in front of past world rookie champion Brad Pierce, of Oxley (Vic). Wantabadgery (NSW) cowboy Rhys Angland and Griffith (NSW) rider Heath Litchfield make up the top four.
In the open bull ride, Tyrrell leads the standings from two Queenslanders, Joe Polkinghorne, of Bluff, and Beaudesert rider Jared Borghero.
The Victorian cowboy is on target to win plenty of rookie pro tour buckles this season. Tyrrell already leads the rookie all around, bull ride and bareback bronc standings.
In cowgirl standings, Amber West, of Dreeite, Victoria, is the leader from Cheyenne Whitwell, of Mt Tarampa, Queeensland.
Amber McIntyre, of Molyullah, Victoria, is on top of early season barrel racing standings.
Other event leaders from Victoria are team ropers Garry McPhee (Lurg) and Toby Collins (Maldon).
Gunnedah (NSW) rider Wade Clifford has taken the early lead in bareback bronc standings.
Queensland competitors Cameron Bell, Andrew Turvey and Kerry Turner lead their events.
Bell hails from Gracemere in Central Queensland and is on top of the leader board in steer wrestling. He was second in round five of the National Finals Rodeo at the Gold Coast last year.
After an outstanding 2010 when he spent most of the season near the top of the standings, Thallon cowboy Andrew Turvey is an early leader in 2012 saddle bronc standings.
He is in front of two of the best in the business, Angland and Pierce.
Turner, of Charlwood near Aratula, has started the season in fine style to lead breakaway roping standings.
Rope and tie leader Tyson Durfey is from the United States but is currently based in Queensland.
APRA action in Victoria hots up on the long weekend in March with rodeos on successive days at Kyabram (March 9), Merrijig (March 10) and Chiltern (March 11).
One of the highest profile rodeos each year in Victoria is the annual Warragul Peter Evison Memorial Rodeo on March 24.
APRA PROGRAM:
January 26 Harveydale (Tas); January 28 Wilmington (SA), Carrick Bull Ride (Tas) and Cranbourne (Vic); February 4 Ross (Tas), Peterborough (SA); February 11 Glengarry (Vic); February 18 Kinross Pro Charity Rodeo; February 25 Whittlesea (Vic), Narrandera Outback Rodeo Jeans Rodeo; March 3 Millmerran (Qld) Show Rodeo; Wagga Wagga (NSW); March 9 Kyabram (Vic); March 10 Merrijig (Vic), Gowrie Park (Tas); March 11 Chiltern (Vic); March 24 Preston (Tas), Warragul Peter Evison Memorial Rodeo (Vic), Comet (Qld); March 30 Corryong (Vic); March 31 Melbourne Stampede (Vic).
More information on 46618183.
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