The Warwick Rodeo is known as the most famous in Australia and rates with Mount Isa as one of the big two in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Australian Professional Rodeo Association standings leader Roy Dunn (Proserpine) is the favourite after being the only rider to make time on two bulls at Mount Isa in August. 

Dunn will face tough opposition from past champion and reigning APRA record holder Fraser Babbington who is originally from New Zealand but now lives at Beaudesert in Queensland.

Tooma (NSW) rider Brad Pierce has won titles in the APRA, as well as rookie bull ride and rookie all-around titles in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in the US and will make the trip to Warwick.

Last year, Upper Horton (NSW) rider Troy Wilkinson won the bull ride at the Warwick Rodeo soon after returning from a riding stint in the US and is aiming to go back-to-back.

The Victorian charge will be led by Bryden Atkins who was a prolific winner as a junior and has enjoyed success in the US in the open ranks.

The interstate rivalry will be just as strong in the cowgirl events with Moree (NSW) rider Wendy Caban the favourite.

Caban is the APRA leader in barrel race and all-round standings.

Caban’s toughest opposition will come from runner-up Jamie-Lee Williams, of Alton Downs, in Central Queensland.

Stephanie Gard from Table Top in NSW is a past national champion in cowgirl events and will be one to watch in the barrel race and breakaway roping.

Cherie D’Donoghue has the most all-round cowgirl titles in APRA history and will travel from Lockington in Victoria to Warwick.

In the timed events for cowboys, the favourites in the rope and tie are four Queenslanders, two Victorians and one rider from NSW.

Emerald (Queensland) rider Shane Kenny has won 12 rope and tie titles in the APRA and is this season’s standings leader.

Kenny’s greatest challenge will come from Alton Downs (Queensland) rider Shane Iker who was runner-up to Kenny in the title battle last year and is second in the standings this season.

Clancy Middleton from Hughenden in North Queensland and past champion Mark Knox, of Ebenezer in Queensland, make up the top four chances from Queensland.

Victorian pair Terry Evison (Trafalgar) and Lee Kimber (Lockington) have been among the best ropers in the nation this decade and could easily secure a title in Warwick.

The NSW hopes in the rope and tie will be led by Ty Parkinson, of Moonbi, who won round two at Mount Isa this season and is third in the standings.

Parkinson will compete with Ben Smith in team roping.

One team roping team to watch will be Tamworth couple Greg and Phillipa Leys in an event where Ebenezer  couple Mark and Tamara Knox are also combining.

The first events of the Warwick Rodeo will be at 6.30pm today.

The main action will hot up tomorrow night and then at the weekend, with action under lights on Saturday night.

Prizemoney on offer in Warwick ranks with Mount Isa in the top two in the APRA so there are 550 nominations as riders aim to win prize money to boost their position in the standings and chance to qualify in the top 15 for next year’s national finals rodeo.

■APRA PROGRAM: October 23 to 26 Warwick (Qld); October 31 to November 1 Jimna Bull Ride (Qld); November 15 Kapunda (SA); November 28 Bundaberg (Qld).