STRATHALBYN riders Glen Kent and Leslie Stacey will go into the saddle bronc ride at Carrieton Rodeo on December 27 as two of the favourites after performing well in the event last year.
The Carrieton Rodeo will be one of seven on the Christmas Run in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.
The first rodeo will be at Myrtleford, Vic, on December 26 before attention turns to Carrieton, which has 220 nominations for all eight APRA championship events the next day.
Mr Kent won the saddle bronc title at the 2010 National Finals Rodeo and has been one of the best on the circuit for the past decade.
He won the aggregate at Carrieton last year with a second in the first round and a win in the second round.
Leslie Stacey won the first round and was fourth in the second for a second overall.
Fellow Strathalbyn rider David Stacey will also contest the saddle bronc at Carrieton.
One of the toughest opponents for the SA contingent will be Toby Collins, Maldon, Vic, who is the one rider in the APRA to regularly contest all three rough stock events.
The top two bull riders in APRA standings, Roy Dunn, Proserpine, Qld, and Sam Champ, Caboolture, Qld, will make the trip to Carrieton, making the contest a certain to be a crowd pleaser.
Docher, Vic, cowboy Bryden Atkins won the bull ride at Carrieton last year and will have plenty of experience in North America to fall back on when he aims for a winning eight-second ride this year.
Mr Atkins was the only rider to make time in winning the bull ride at this month’s rodeo at Rosewood, NSW, when he scored 72 on Indian.
The top SA riders in APRA standings, Kevin Reynolds and Allen Heath, will both contest the timed events.
Mr Reynolds hails from Kapunda and Mr Heath is from Roseworthy and both will be keen to place and boost their chances of qualification in the top-15 for the National Finals Rodeo next year.
They are two of the favourites for the rope and tie along with Kapunda rider Daniel Pearson, Vic stars Lee Kimber and Terry Evison and Clancy Middleton, Qld.
