People travelled from Port Augusta, Whyalla, Ceduna and Port Lincoln to enjoy the fast growing, action packed sport of team yarding.

Twenty-four senior riders and 13 junior riders started the weekend with one hour horsemanship and cattle work lesson from Nigel “Scrubber” O’Brien.

This helped newcomers to the club Paul and Jodie Scholz, and Richard and Mellissa Boulley get accustomed to cattle and the rules of team yarding.

Names were drawn out of the hat for the first competition and the fun began.

Cattle were a challenge to pen due to the blustery conditions but the combination of Andrew Bammann, Herbie Dunn and Scrubber O’Brien started the day with a fantastic run, penning three head of cattle in 1 minute 17 seconds and no one could match it. Conditions and cattle got that challenging during the morning that teams resorted to calling time after just penning one beast. The junior riders also had a number of runs on both Saturday and Sunday in combination with one senior rider.

Junior rules are a little different to seniors in that they only have to pen one beast with the designated colour, plus any other two beasts.

The best time for the junior competitors was 90 seconds with three beasts penned by the team of Chloe Bammann, Brodie Hill and senior rider Trent Allen.

Juniors also had fun on both Saturday and Sunday during the one hour lunch break learning horsemanship and cattle skills from Cindy Dennis.

The open competition on both Saturday and Sunday was very competitive with a lot of fun team rivalry.

Cattle were a little easier to work with on Sunday and after plenty of practice on Saturday, riders and horses were more experienced and a number of times were recorded.

The combination of Andrew Bammann, Melissa Boully and Tex O’Brien was unbeatable; they consistently penned three head of cattle with the best time of the weekend of one minute.

Sunday’s open winners were Tash O’Brien, Cindy Dennis and Nigel O’Brien, with a time of 1 minute 11 seconds, just ahead of the combination of Tex O’Brien and husband and wife Richard and Melissa Boully with 1 minute 12 seconds.

There were lots of jokes during the day about the secretary, president and vice president of the club winning the open, but it was all in good spirit.

Thanks to the Allen family of Wudinna for donating the use of their cattle and Heath Transport for carting them.

Wudinna Team Yarders are holding a Phil Rodey Horsemanship Clinic which includes horsemanship, colt starts and cattle from July 19 to 25. For more details, ring Cindy Dennis on 0428 815 744 as there are limited rider positions available and a deposit is required.

The next event will be on July 26 and 27, and all riders and spectators are welcome. For more information ring Tash O’Brien on 8681 8028, or visit the website www.wudinnateamyarders.com

Results

Saturday: Lucky draw senior: First: Nigel O’Brien, Andrew Bammann, Herbie Dunn 1.17; second: Tash O’Brien, Richard Boully, Trent Allen 1.25; third: Chloe Bammann, Brodie Hill, Trent Allen 1.30.

Junior: Chloe Bammann, Brodie Hill, Trent Allen 1.40; Asha O’Brien, Amylee Dunn, Tex O’Brien 2.00.

Senior open: Tex O’Brien, Melissa Boully, Paul Scholz 1.03; Trent Allen, Tash O’Brien, Richard Boully 1.35; Andrea Hill, Viv O’Brien, Brodie Hill 1.51.

Sunday: Lucky draw senior: Melissa Boully, Tex O’Brien, Andrew Bammann 1.00; Jodie Scholz, Richard Boully, Herbie Dunn 1.08; Tash O’Brien, Paul Scholz, Nigel O’Brien 1.11.

Junior:Ashlee McEvoy, Lizzie Brands, Richard Boully 1.41; Roxanne Brands, Chloe Bammann, Trent Allen 1.44.

Senior open: Cindy Dennis, Nigel O’Brien, Tash O’Brien 1.11; Richard Boully, Melissa Boully, Tex O’Brien 1.12; Mardi O’Brien, Andrew Bammann, Jill O’Brien 1.30.