The local firebrand is leading the 2013 Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) bareback standings by a comfortable margin having already accrued more than $10,000 in prizemoney.

Riding a horse by the name of Computer Games, Heinemann posted a 75-point score to take out the open bareback on home soil.

AgQuip Rodeo organiser Rod Galton had little doubt the local rider was up to the challenge, having heard Heinemann rode well on the same horse recently in Tamworth.

Also oozing good form was Bulahdelah’s David Mason who left all in his wake to win the open bull ride aboard Bad Manners with an impressive 85-point score.

“He would be one of the best bull riders going at the moment,”Galton said.

“He spent a bit of time in the States and really made the last ride look easy.”

Mason also took out the open bull’s top placing at the Dungog Rodeo earlier this year with a similarly strong 83-point ride.

The 2012 ABCRA Champion All Round Cowgirl champion Nichole Fitzpatrick from Willow Tree claimed a strong win in the barrel race with a time of 16.45 seconds, while former Gundagai cowboy Robert Bandy was first in the open saddle bronc with a 76-point score.

Galton commended the quality stock on offer at the rodeo, evidenced by the number of cowboys who failed to  make time.

“They threw probably 13 or 14 of them off in the saddle bronc,” he said.

“You don’t see that a lot.”