Maldon cowboy and champion Aussie bronc rider Bailey O’Dell is set to compete alongside some of best riders from across the globe at the Cinch International Australian Bronc Match at the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft in Queensland this Saturday October 24.
O’Dell is a rising star in the scene and recently claimed the 2026 Mount Isa Mines Rodeo Open Saddle Bronc buckle.
Australia has assembled one of the strongest saddle bronc fields ever brought together on home soil.
The event 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 Maldon’s own 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.
Bailey said this is his second year competing at the event.
“It was a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to taking part again. I’ve had a pretty good year and will aim to do my best,” he said.
“I’ve also competed in a couple of campdraft events while I’m up here.”
Bailey has been around horses all his life and works as a horse trainer when he is not competing. He has been riding broncs for three or four years now.
The 21-year-old said he is looking forward to seeing a few of the stars in action including Australian Jake Finlay and Gus Gaillard from Texas.
“Taking part in the event and seeing the elite riders in action last year really helped me step up my skills,” he said.
Bailey will be 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.
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.”