Australian-bred Dave Appleton rode his first bareback bronc at 16 and went on to compete in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. At 18, he joined the Australian Rough Riders Association (ARRA) and qualified for the ARRA National Finals in bareback and saddle bronc. In 1980, Dave came to America to rodeo and attended Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. In 1982, he started rodeoing professionally. Dave qualified for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo 11 times and, in 1988, became the first Australian to win a world rodeo championship when he was named 1988 World Champion All-Around Cowboy. Nicknamed “The Lone Roo,” Dave’s outgoing personality made him popular on and off the rodeo circuit.
