A new chapter in the history of the Warwick Gold Cup Campdraft was written on Sunday when Clermont campdrafter Kerry Turner claimed victory.
Ms Turner, aged 46 years, is only the second female to win the Warwick Gold Cup, since Gertie Brook etched her name into the history book and claimed the title astride Popeye in 1951. The same horse and rider combination was placed second again in 1953.
It was with steely determination and a cool head Ms Turner riding the 14-year-old brown mare Hingus entered the arena as the 32nd competitor in the final round and achieved an aggregate score of 265.5 points.
Ms Turner claimed victory by half a point ahead of Pete Comiskey, Nebo, riding Harry who accumulated 265 points over the three rounds and was sitting on top of the leader board.
The absolute all round cowgirl has now won it all.
She is a former APRA Australian Breakaway Roping champion and barrel racing competitor and the win was very emotional as she fought back tears at the presentation ceremony.
Ms Turner campdrafted as a child with her family before taking up breakaway roping and barrel racing but returned to the sport about five years ago.
She campaigned Hingus who is by Hazelwood Conman and is owned by her partner Rohan Marks.
Ms Turner said a friend had given her a magazine story on the late Gertie Brook and when she read she had a thought in her head that she wanted to be the next female Warwick Gold Cup winner.
And those thoughts and dreams came true on Sunday.
Ms Turner also was awarded the Dolly Everett Memorial Ladies Series for the highest aggregate over the three campdrafts, the Condamine Bell, the Chinchilla Grandfather Clock and the Warwick Gold Cup.
Hingus was awarded the JHS Barnes Memorial Trophy which has been awarded at Warwick Campdraft since 1973, to an Australian Stock Horse who represents an outstanding example of the breed.
"You know I really don't think it has sunk in yet," she said.
"It certainly has been a very big year for me."
Other Warwick Gold Cup placings in a very tight finish included Darren Jones riding Players Garter on 264.5 points while Daniel Cheer stood fourth on 264 points riding Playgirl.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
