The event on January 30 holds pride of place on the national calendar and is renowned for attracting big numbers of spectators.

Tooma cowboy Brad Pierce, “Passchendaele”, will enter the rodeo in the rough stock events.

The in-form cowboy recently won the bronc ride at Myrtleford Rodeo in Victoria and placed at several other major events.

At Myrtleford he rode the well known bucking mare Texas Lil. Texas Lil is owned by rodeo stock contractors John Gill and Son of The Rock.

“When she first started out she was the one to get on … but now she is getting a lot tougher to ride,” he said.

“I think she is just getting tougher and a lot better,” he said.

“She is one of the best horses in their (bucking) string.”

Mr Pierce said he was looking forward to the Wagga Pro Rodeo. “It is always a good event and I always draw pretty good at Wagga,” he said.

Mr Pierce said the event was also set to provide plenty of entertainment. “There is a bull there called High Flyers and he is going to be one of the ones to watch,” he said.

Stock contractor John Gill is looking forward to the sixth Pro Rodeo at the Equex Centre at Wagga. Principal of Gil Mathews Steel, Gil Mathew is a long time supporter of the event and has agreed to ride a bull this year. Mr Gill says this will be a highlight on the program.

Mr Gill is pleased with the form of his bucking stock and – like Mr Pierce – he urged spectators to look out for the new bucking bull High Flyer who is a grandson of the renowned bull Akubra Insanity. “We are expecting plenty of Australia’s top competitors to enter and there has been good interest from spectators,” he said. One of Australia’s toughest bucking bulls War Chief will also be there and bucking horses including Ramblin’ Angel and his brother Little Angel will be in the draw too.