LUKE Morgan, Ben Maytom and Ty Parkinson couldn’t have done much more to advertise Aussie cowboys than this week’s brilliant finish to the International Professional Rodeo Association National Finals in Oklahoma City.
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While Ty Parkinson will have a month off before returning to the US and Canada to launch another assault on the IPRA, Luke Morgan will have a more extended stay and replenish a body that suffered a broken arm and two fractured vertebrae.
“I want to do what Luke did,” Parkinson said of his fellow Tamworthian who annexed a world saddle bronc title.
Parkinson won three rookie IPRA world titles and hopes to transfer that to the full senior competition in 2016.
Along with Stroud’s Ben Maytom, they showered great kudos on Australia with their various rodeo successes at Oklahoma City’s IPRA World Final.
The IPRA’s Lindsay Whelchel was amazed and enraptured by their efforts.
“Luke was in his first year with the IPRA and wins both the Rookie of the Year title and the World Championship title in saddle bronc riding,” Whelchel said from Oklahoma.
“He is the first Australian to ever win a world title in the IPRA.
“Ben Maytom, Luke’s travelling partner and one of his best friends, is the first Australian to ever win the Average (or Aggregate) title in their event in the IPRA.
“He won the average in saddle bronc riding.
“The average and the world title are the two biggest awards, so it was especially neat the No. 1 and No. 2 guys in the saddle bronc standings took those home and that they are best friends.
“Ben finished No. 2 in the world making him Reserve World Champion.
“Ben was also Rookie of the Year in the saddle bronc riding last year (for the 2014 season).
“It’s kind of confusing because our finals are in January 2016, but they crown the 2015 world champions. Our competitive season runs December 1 to November 30 of each year with the finals held in January of the new year.
“Then Ty Parkinson, a rookie in the IPRA, wins Rookie of the Year in both the team roping (heeling) and the bull riding (as well as Rookie of the Year in the All-Around category).
“He is an All-Around competitor who does just about every event from timed events to rough stock, which is pretty rare. This year qualified for the IFR in bull riding and team roping. He almost made it in the calf roping too, and was the No. 2 rookie in the world standings for calf roping.
“He and another Australian, Adam Hinkley, were the only two Australian bull riders to qualify.
“Ty finished second in the world standings in the bull riding making him Reserve World Champion and Adam Hinkley finished 10th. Ty finished no. 7 in the world in team roping heeling.”
