Southern Downs makes good showing
THE newly formed Southern Downs Team Penning Incorporation competed in the Team Penning Nationals at Tamworth last week.
With four youths (10-17 years) and six adults making the five-hour trek (with supporters) they were on for a fierce two-day qualifier to make the finals on Sunday.
To the credit of our girls' youth team, they held on to score a fifth place out of 45 runs over all.
Just under three seconds was the difference between third and fifth placings.
The best of our opens team - Bill Collins, Terry Keogh and Jo Sproule - had to sit tight on an excellent time of 33.06 seconds to be in first place
However, just 14 runs later, they were outdone by an all- men's Victorian team, which managed to sneak in a 22.21 second run right at the end of the finals.
Missing out on first prize of new saddles after 250 senior runs, Bill, Jo and Terry happily accepted second prize and were extremely pleased with the outcome of the weekend.
Southern Downs Team Penning were the only teams to represent Queensland, with the open team members of Terry and Sharon Keogh, Jo Sproule, Bill Collins, Glen and Kerryn Easey.
The youth teams, made up of Grace Easey, Brittany Keogh, Bella Zoppi and Jack Easey, are already planning 2012 Team Penning Nationals in Tamworth.
Southern Downs Team Penning will be holding a meeting for all to come and join up or find out what it is all about.
The time and date will be advertised in paper soon but organisers say it's a "great family sport for all to do".
