Over the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October the Coonamble Team Penning Club had their final competition for the year in "pretty perfect" spring conditions at the Coonamble Showground.

There were 102 individual riders aged from four to 70-ish competing in different team configurations and age-based categories throughout the weekend.

Teams were welcomed from as far afield as the Hunter Valley and Cobar.

Saturday's team penning saw 102 runs, across Youth (13-17 years), Junior (up to 12 yrs), Junior Family, Youth Family and Open divisions.

Pippa Pennell (5) and Grace Jones (4), teamed up with their parents to compete for the first time, as did primary aged Archie Andrews.

The Open section is open to competent riders of all ages and 5 year old Bodhi Luppino joined his parents Brendan Luppino and Kimberley Bird to compete.

Bodhi also rode in the Open section in a team with his father Brendon and grandfather Anthony - three generations riding together.

The Arena Sorting competition on Sunday saw similar numbers.

PHOTO: The Ewenbarn team: Ewan McLeish, Peter and Sue Barnard.

"We had more locals than we've ever had before, including so many that were new to the sport," said Treasurer & Nominations Manager Carolyn Jones.

"There are lots of people new to the sport, many of them haven't ridden for a while and it's a great horse sport to do if you want to jump back into riding."

Among the local award winners were first time competitors David Finn and Nicole Fester.

"People are becoming aware of what a great horse sport team penning is," Carolyn says. "Our members all work hard to promote it to anyone we speak to and to get people involved.

"Even people who come on their own. We'll find them a team of like-minded people and pop them together."

PHOTO: John Lundholm tries his hand at team penning. PHOTO: Tracey Moody.

Team Penning Results

Junior - 1st MAT Junior, Mikayla, Azza and Thomas; 2nd Bad Boys, Jack, Joey and Archie.

Youth - 1st Pink Rummies, Mia, Sierra-Rose andCooper; 2nd Two girls & a Guy,Kiarni, Jack W and Alyssa; 3rd the Deadly Dawgs, Hope, Tahlia and Tully.

Junior Family - 1st Jones Mob - Carolyn, Jack and Grace; 2nd Whose Kids? Azza, Miakyla and Carolyn; 3rd Jones Mob - Carolyn, Jack and Joey.

Youth Family - 1st Sliders 2, Joe, Abbie & Isla; 2nd BMG, Bronte, Milla and Glen; 3rd Here's Trouble, Mia, Debbie and Sierra-Rose.

Open - 1st Ewenbarn, Sue, Pete and Ewan; 2nd Havin a Crack - Sarah, Alice and Jess; 3rd BOI, Prue, Bradley and Josie.

PHOTO: Lindsey Kennedy sorts his steers. PHOTO: Tracey Moody.

Arena Sorting Results

Junior - 1st JMQ Junior, Jack, Mikayla & Quin; 2nd, Coonamble Cool, Mikayla, Archie and Joey.

Youth - 1st Fast n Furious 4, Isla, Stacey and Dakota; 2nd & 3rd The Deadly Dawgs, Hope, Tahlia and Tully.

Junior Family - 1st Jones Mob, Carolyn, Jack and Thomas; 2nd Whose Kids? Azza, Mikayla and Carolyn.

Youth Family - 1st and 2nd BMG, Bronte, Milla and Glen; 3rd Trouble Makers, Kaylah, Stacey and Dakota.

Open - 1st Old n New 4, Joe, Jason and John; 2nd Organised Chaos, Carl, Kagan and J'Rhett; 3rd the Hooley Dooleys, Jason, Daniel and Rebecca.

PHOTO: Kiarni and Gabbi Smith. PHOTO: Tracey Moody

There were five herds of thirty cattle on rotation in the team penning and 12 herds in the Arena Sorting.

Cattle for the weekend were donated by Ross Chandler and Paul Wheelhouse, and carted to and from the Showground by Kym Walsh and Evan Jackson of JW Jackson & Sons Transport and Paul Wheelhouse.

"We need multiple pens on both days and we make sure the nominations aren't too high so the cattle are well rested," Carolyn said. "We place great importance in caring for the cattle that have been donated for the event"