THE combination of horsemanship and aggressive riding delivered Jontti Arnold, Longreach Pastoral College, Longreach, a compelling win in the U21 stockman's challenge.
Jontti, the daughter of college instructor John Arnold, showed plenty of skill and finesse during the dry work and was rewarded with 86 points - in the process opening up a commanding lead from AACo's Sinclair George, 76.75 points; Brodie Land, Hewitt Cattle Company, 68.25 points; and Amy Tabbot, Australian Cattle and Beef Holdings, 66.5 points; followed by Libby Dickinson, Georgina Pastoral Company, Brandon Hood, ACC, and Jack Jones, CPC.
She backed this up with an equal best score in the time trial and brought it home with an 85.5 wet work ride for a convincing overall win.
Brodie Land's 88 points in the wet work, propelled him into second place, while Sinclair George held on for third.
Consistent performances in all three disciplines catapulted Theo Golding, Georgina Pastoral Company to the top of the open stockman's challenge.
He laid a solid platform, posting a 77.5 high score in the opening dry work, followed this with an equal top in the time trial, and then held his nerve to finish with a 84 wet work ride for a total of 231.5.
This was enough to hold out the fast-finishing Holly Dawson, NAPCO, whose 90 point wet ride elevated her into second ahead of AACo's Nathan Mura. Then followed Arran Houlden, Hewitt Cattle Company, Darcy Flamstead, Longreach Pastoral College, Sammy Ghent, CPC, Alister Patts, ACBH, and ACC's Kassie Johnson.
Station buckjump
ACC's Cameron Crozier withstood a late challenge from ACBH's Ben Williamson to claim victory in the station buck jump as part of the annual cattle company challenge.
Crozier posted a 71 point ride to put him ahead of CPC's Jack Jones, Hewitt Cattle Company's Stirling Scrivener, LPC's Tom Dwyer and NAPCO's Stuart Speed.
He then held off strong challenges from the well-credentialed Dan Turnbull, a two time winner at Mount Isa rodeo, and Williamson to secure the win.
It was a particularly nervous wait as Turnbull was granted a re-ride when his mount failed to buck out. In the end, however, his best efforts weren't enough on the day.
