After a break of about nine years the second Texas Show Rodeo will be the last chance for Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) rough riders to fine tune their form for the resumption of the Northern Run at Taroom on July 30.

A new rodeo arena has been built in recent years so it will get a chance for riders to test drive the new chutes to be used for the first time on Saturday.

Matt Doak from Bundarra is organising the rodeo and will provide the bucking bulls, while the horses will come from Gill Brothers at Upper Horton, who Doak said had only the best saddle broncs in the country.

While Gill drew the bull Loaded Weapon for the open ride, Doak said ‘the weapon’ was one of the best he had.

“He bucked the 2012 Australian champion, Wade McCarthy, at the Gympie show this year, so he’s a pretty handy one,” Doak said. 

“Another bull Good Vibes, he’s been bucking pretty well, and Sweetpea, Ben Palmer’s on him, he’s pretty handy too.

“This year we’re running for the first time with the APRA, just trying to get those quality bronc riders and bull riders, but with the PBR Nationals on in Sydney, I’m pretty pleased with the numbers of quality riders we got this year.”

There will be two sections of the open saddle bronc and second-division bull ride, with the action split by the 7pm fireworks.

In saddle bronc, four of the riders to watch will be Warwick’s trio Michael Maher, Mark Collins and Peel Tribe and Mitchell’s Greg Hamilton.

Show entertainment steward Greg Scurr said he hoped to build up the rodeo so it could become a stand-alone event sometime in the future.

The Cloncurry Merry Muster Rodeo is on August 5-6 and the Mt Isa Rodeo will be the last event on the Northern Run on August 12-14.