YOUNG’s Faith James showed seasoned riders what team penning is all about with her team having taken out the junior competition in a time of 22.46 seconds at West Wyalong Horse Sport Team Yarding on Sunday.
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The Year 6 St Mary’s Primary School student has been riding horses since she was three and - now paired with her trusty steed Charlie - she wowed the crowds twice.
The 12-year-old and Charlie have been teamed up for three years and while their chosen equestrian event is barrel racing, she accompanied her parents Dougie and Cindy James of Wambanumba for the two-day event at West Wyalong Rodeo grounds.
But in saying that she got the surprise opportunity to barrel race on Saturday night in a last minute very popular sporting addition to the program - and won the junior event.
Mum Cindy said Faith constantly practises barrel racing at home but the recent rain has slightly curtailed these earnest efforts.
“She really opened Charlie up on Saturday night taking out the junior barrel race,” she said, with plans afoot to continue that throughout the year.
Riders travelled from as far away as Yass, Lake Cargelligo, Young, Grong Grong, Wagga, Coolaman and Temora, resulting in around 100 open and 45 juniors competing. This figure is up by around 15 for the juniors compared to last year.
It’s now the fifth year the competition has been held out west with all competitors, in teams of three, vying for around $5000-plus in prizemoney and valuable points to take them to the finals in Temora later in the year.
Recent improvements to the grounds with the replacement of old arena fencing with new panels and precision timing on the event meant the two days went off without a hitch.
Great 20 degree weather and good attendances augured well for all teams with beginners, the Deserted Husbands, (non-riding partners of ladies who usually team pen) almost penning with what would have been the fastest time of the day on Saturday.
That was followed by excellent performances from junior beginners - Jess Sincock, Max Jones and Isabella Spackman - who galloped into second place on Saturday.
Organiser Mick Pursehouse said having the cattle in the night before and collared helped settle them and make the event start on time each day.
He said riders from the Young region always supported the West Wyalong event with around seven to eight teams travelling over.
Aside from Faith’s most noteable performances, her dad Dougie brought home a third, and mum Cindy shared equal fourth with Owen Parker in the Open High Point for the weekend.
The team of Sarah Roberts, Brock Taylor and Jane Lahane came in second with 26.72 and Brock Taylor came equal second in the juniors with Jane Lehane coming equal fourth.
Doug Grant, Mick Roberts and Angus Metcalfe left the arena Saturday night with a third in the Open event, as did Murringo’s Owen Parker.
The event gave a welcome boost to the local economy with competitors and supporters spending on accommodation and shopping in the town, says Mick.
He said he was really appreciative of the competitors assisting in the back yards with loading, unloading and collaring cattle.
“A huge shout-out to all the ladies who helped out with collaring the cattle on Saturday evening during the barrel races,” he said.
And as for the barrel racing, Mick said it was a first for the committee and was such a big hit with both the competitors and the crowd it will become an annual part of their event in the future.