Singleton cowboy Ben Lees’ march towards what he hopes is his first all-round national rodeo title has been marked by career-best form, an injury that threatened to derail everything and a marriage to a woman who has made him a “better person and competitor”.
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He leads the all-round standings ahead of Tuesday’s start of the five-day Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association national finals at AELEC.
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Lees is the reigning ABCRA saddle bronc national champion, but is yet to win the coveted all-round crown.
At age 34 and eight years after he won his first ABCRA national title, he has reached a performance high point.
He credits his marriage to fellow rodeo competitor Rebecca Hancock in April for the form spike.
“My wife Bec has been a big supporter and a big contributor to my success,” he said.
“I put that [his success] down to her. She should take the credit, not me.
“She’s just made me an all-round better person and made me believe in myself and get the mental attitude of preparing myself for rodeos a lot better.
“She’s always pushing me … and I think it’s shown throughout the years.”
She’s just made me an all-round better person and made me believe in myself and get the mental attitude of preparing myself for rodeos a lot better.
- Ben Lees on his wife, Rebecca Hancock
Lees dominance saw him win “about six” successive saddle bronc events this season. He also competes in bareback.
Not even a serious elbow injury, which sidelined him for several events, knocked him from pole position.
He leads Heath Nichols by 8.75 points.
‘Me and Heath Nichols have pretty well been head to head all year,” he said.
“I’m just lucky to be in front of him.
“He’s one of the best competitors in Australia at the moment.”
