Miss Rodeo is back | Warwick News | Local News in Warwick

APRA Miss Rodeo Australia organiser Lisa Jones, 2009 Warwick Rodeo Queen Jessica Leech and APRA general manager Steve Hilton.

AFTER nearly a decade, the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) Miss Rodeo Australia pageant will be reinstated, thanks to former Miss Rodeo New Zealand and current Bony Mountain resident Lisa Jones.

Jones and a highly qualified committee will have the pageant – which will pick the best of the nation’s APRA Rodeo Queens – up and running in 2010.

Miss Rodeo Australia will be given the opportunity to travel to America and represent Australia at some of the biggest rodeos in the world.

Jones said the goal would be to hold the pageant before the annual APRA National Finals Rodeo, at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, each January.

The reinstatement of the competition, which has been approved by the APRA board, means 2009 Warwick Rodeo Queen Jessica Leech could be the first Miss Rodeo Australia in almost 10 years if she wins the pageant next year.

“We are hoping to hold it (the Miss Rodeo Australia judging) in April and to get the first winner over to America by June,” Jones said.

To raise money for the first pageant, the APRA will hold a star-studded bull ride spectacular, behind Shane Webcke’s Royal Hotel, in Leyburn, on January 16.

Webcke will participate in the bull ride and the Daily News understands he is trying to convince former Broncos player Gordon Tallis and media personality Andrew G to also ride.

World-class rodeo clowns Shane “Mad Dog” Simpson and Matt Darmody will protect the riders from the bulls, which will be supplied by locals Frank Biddle and Ross Hamilton.

Jones acknowledged the fact the pageant had failed in the past.

“Every sport has its good times and its hard times and we’ve had our hard times, but now it’s time for us to shine,” she said.

The fundraiser in Leyburn will feature a $1500 open bull ride, a $700 novice bull ride, a $200 junior bull ride and even a mutton-busting event for the tiny tots.

There will also be a cutting demonstration at the event, which will begin at 6pm.

Nominations open on January 6. Phone 4661 4766 to nominate.