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BRONC-RIDING CHAMPIONS ASSEMBLED FOR INTERNATIONAL WARWICK SHOWDOWN THIS SATURDAY

Cinch International Australian Bronc Match

Key Facts:

What: Cinch International Australian Bronc Match, presented by Gill Bros Rodeo
When: Saturday 24 October 2026 during the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft
Where: Warwick Showgrounds, Kingsford Street, Warwick, Queensland
Time: Approximately 6pm; final event time to be confirmed
Field: 240 elite Australian and international bronc riders
Prize pool: More than $50,000, plus an $8,800 custom Australian fender saddle

BRONC-RIDING CHAMPIONS ASSEMBLED FOR INTERNATIONAL WARWICK SHOWDOWN

Four of Australia’s top five, three American stars and the country’s leading international campaigners prepare for a $50,000 battle under lights

 

Australia has assembled one of the strongest saddle bronc fields ever brought together on home soil for the Cinch International Australian Bronc Match, presented by Gill Bros Rodeo and A Rorey Lemmel Bucker, at the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft THIS SATURDAY night, 24 October. Vision and stills here

 

The final wave of rider announcements brings together four of the top five competitors in the final 2026 Australian Professional Rodeo Association saddle bronc standings, the reigning Australian champion, former national and tour champions, junior world titleholders, leading Australians returning from the United States and three formidable American stars.

 

They will battle for more than $50,000 in prize money, an $8,000 custom-made Australian fender saddle and the right to claim one of the most prestigious bronc-riding titles contested in Australia, and it will all come down to eight seconds!

 

Leading the Australian invitees is Victoria’s Bailey O’Dell, who finished the regular season at No. 1 in the APRA saddle bronc standings after becoming the first rider to win consecutive Xtreme Broncs Australia titles. He is joined by Australia’s No. 2 Ben Rasmussen of Nevertire, Australia’s No. 4 and current junior bull-riding world champion Cade Ferguson of Cloncurry, and Australia’s No. 5 Ken Coleman of Bells Bridge.

 

Mount Isa Indigenous Rodeo Champion and Australia’s No. 7 Clayton Braden, former Xtreme Broncs Australia champion and Aus No. 9 Mick Knight, 2022 Australian champion Greg “Dyso” Hamilton, six-time NRA Saddle Bronc Champion Jack Capewell, inaugural Xtreme Broncs Australia Rookie Champion Lane Edwards and former APRA Tour Champion Tom Knight complete the Australian invitation field.

 

They will be joined by a powerful international invitation contingent featuring three of America’s leading bronc riders: Shorty Garrett of Eagle Butte, South Dakota; Gus Gaillard of Morse, Texas; and Zac Dallas of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

 

Returning from competition in the United States are Bronc Match co-founders Jake Finlay of Goondiwindi and Tom Webster of Injune, alongside Darcy Wockner of Julia Creek, Joe Macqueen of Millmerran, Warwick Southern of Weengallon and newly announced Regan Lyons of Meandarra who has spent the 2026 season campaigning in the United States and riding for Western Texas College, competing at major American rodeos alongside several of the world’s most accomplished saddle bronc athletes. One final Australian reserve will be confirmed before Saturday night.

 

Australian Bronc Match Inc President Jake Finlay said the completed line-up demonstrated the extraordinary strength of Australian saddle bronc riding. “This is the field we dreamed about when we first started talking about bringing an international Bronc Match home to Australia,” Finlay said. “We have four of the top five riders from the Australian season, national champions, international competitors, brilliant young riders and three seriously dangerous Americans coming to Warwick. There isn’t an easy section anywhere in this field. Every rider has earned his invitation, every horse has earned its place in the draw and every single trip out of those chutes is going to matter. Our Australian riders know the championship buckle, the major prize money and the saddle have gone back to America in both previous years. There is plenty of respect between these cowboys, but once the gate opens, Australia wants that buckle back.”

 

For the American riders, Saturday night represents the opportunity to extend a remarkable winning streak.

 

The inaugural Bronc Match title was claimed by Cash Wilson of Wall, South Dakota, at Scone in 2024, before Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming, won the 2025 championship in Warwick with a spectacular 89.5-point ride.

Garrett, Gaillard and Dallas will now attempt to make it three consecutive American victories.

 

For the Australians, Finlay said, the mission could not be clearer. “We’ve brought together the men capable of stopping them,” he said. “The world is coming to Warwick, and Australia is ready.”

 

INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONS

• Jake Finlay — Goondiwindi, Queensland
• Tom Webster — Injune, Queensland
• Shorty Garrett — Eagle Butte, South Dakota, USA
• Gus Gaillard — Morse, Texas, USA
• Zac Dallas — Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
• Darcy Wockner — Julia Creek, Queensland
• Joe Macqueen — Millmerran, Queensland
• Warwick Southern — Weengallon, Queensland
• Regan Lyons — Meandarra, Queensland
• Final Australian reserve — to be confirmed

 

AUSTRALIAN INVITATIONS

• Ben Rasmussen — Nevertire, New South Wales
• Ken Coleman — Bells Bridge, Queensland
• Cade Ferguson — Cloncurry, Queensland
• Mick Knight — Manilla, New South Wales
• Bailey O’Dell — Maldon, Victoria
• Lane Edwards — Stratford, New South Wales
• Tom Knight — Manilla, New South Wales
• Jack Capewell — Rosewood, Queensland
• Clayton Braden — Collinsville, Queensland
• Greg “Dyso” Hamilton — Mitchell, Queensland

 

The competition will see the riders divided into sections, with the highest-scoring cowboys advancing to the championship short round. At stake is more than $50,000 in prize money, including $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second and $5,000 for third, plus a custom-made Australian fender saddle handcrafted by Beaudesert saddlemaker Troy Welsh and valued at $8,000. The event will be called by celebrated American professional rodeo announcer Garrett Yerigan, who has travelled to Warwick to bring the international showdown to life.

 

EVENT DETAILS

What: Cinch International Australian Bronc Match, presented by Gill Bros Rodeo
When: Saturday 24 October 2026 during the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft
Where: Warwick Showgrounds, Kingsford Street, Warwick, Queensland
Time: Approximately 6pm; final event time to be confirmed
Field: 240 elite Australian and international bronc riders
Prize pool: More than $50,000, plus an $8,800 custom Australian fender saddle

GET TICKETS HERE

 

For media information, contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]

 

Contact details:

Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]