General News
14 August, 2024
Bareback buckle winner Higgins wants more USA success
The Victorian cowboy says he's off to America in October.
Luke Higgins has been trying to win a bareback buckle at Mount Isa for more than a decade and says that now he has one, he’ll try and crack the big time in America.
The Victorian has been going to the United States on and off, but will head abroad in October to see if he can make it with the best in North America.
“I’ve finally done it; it’s been a long-time coming,” Higgins said post-victory on Saturday.
“This is my sixth time riding at Mount Isa and I first came in 2013.
“There were 14 of us (in the bareback competition) and they are the very best in Australia.”
Higgins said the competition helped lift the standard.
He beat fellow Victorian and current Australian champion Jarrod McKane for honours in the final, although said there would be no hard feelings.
“We travel a little bit together and he won the title in 2021 and I won it in 2022 and then he won it last year,” Higgins said.
“He’s picked up a lot of money this year so I’d say he’s going to be hard to beat again this year.”
Higgins started the year strongly before taking four months off the circuit to focus on other goals.
He made his return to the arena in Cloncurry with a win and said he was thrilled to back it up in front of a packed crowd at Buchanan Park.
“This is the best rodeo ground and the biggest show in the country so this is probably the grand final for us,” the 27-year-old said.
“To be honest, I’m glad to just be back riding. “Being fit, strong and healthy is a great feeling.”
Higgins said he would finish the season in Australia before heading to the United States.
“I went to America last year and I’ve been going on and off since I was 18,” he said.
“I’ve had some success at places like Cheyanne and I’ll go back at the end of October.”
Higgins said there were more opportunities in America, although he said bareback riding was growing in Australia.
“The venue here is obviously great and the calibre of cowboys here is just as good as over there,” he told North West Weekly.
“The money is going up which is good and the bucking stock is getting better.
“The Xtreme Broncs has been taking off and that’s creating a lot more opportunities here.”