Defending national round top cowboy and Southland sheep and beef farmer Anthony Perkins has all-but ended his hopes of retaining the title of national all-round rodeo champion despite two winning cheques in the opening round of the 2017 New Zealand championships in Wairoa.
Former Mataura club president and Southland beef and sheep farmer Perkins was unable to make any inroads into the lead held by Rotorua cowboy Corey Church, now favourite to regain the title he last won in 2015.
Perkins was second in the first round of the rope and tie and the team roping, while Church won the saddle bronc and was third in the rope and tie, each pocketing $540 on the night, Church thus maintaining his place at the top of the rankings which are based on prizemoney earned throughout the season.
Wairoa club committee member Richard Wallace said it was a good "Friday" crowd last night, fans filling about two-thirds of the showgrounds spectator area which is expected to be full for the last two rounds today, starting at 11am.
There will be a poignant moment for all, with a minute's silence in memory of Jeff Young, the club president up to his death last month. He had been significantly involved in organising the championships, the first in Wairoa since 2005, although the club holds a rodeo at the Wairoa A and P Show each January.
