RODEO: Warwick State High School students Nikki Burraston and Savannah Halley are representing Australia for the first time this weekend.

They were selected to compete in the Australian High School team in the first round of the Australian High School Rodeo Trans Tasman Challeng this weekend at Capella.

The girls will then compete in round 2 at the St Brendan's Yeppoon Friday night rodeo next week and then the final round on September 1 at St Brendan's.

Each Australian team member has to arrange for the loan of one horse for a New Zealand rider for the three rounds of the challenge.

Burraston will compete in the barrel race and Halley in breakaway roping.

They have also competed in this weekend's junior rodeo events at Capella to boost their chances of selection in the Trans Tasman Challenge in New Zealand in January. Only results to the end of September will count.

The pair were selected in this weekend's team based on performances in rodeos across three associations since January. Some of the events on the Southern Downs were show rodeos and a junior rodeo at Evandale at Greymare.

The Australia and New Zealand teams are made up of three riders in each of five events - saddle bronc, bull ride, steer ride, barrel race and breakaway roping.

The international competition between Trans Tasman teams is held annually. Burraston is in year 12 so will be seeking her last chance to tour New Zealand with the Australian team in January.

Halley is in year 9 so is likely to get more opportunities to represent Australia at international level.

The next major rodeo in the Warwick area is the Southern Downs Ag Warwick Cowboys Rodeo on August 31 at Father Ranger Oval.