Young rider taking on big competition
SKY SANDERS continues to punch well above her weight.
The 11yearold Alexandra barrel riding prodigy is returning to Australia next week for the International Barrel Race competition in Gympie, Queensland.
It will be her second appearance after she first appeared at the event last year.
Shelly Sanders said her daughter would again be the youngest competitor by ‘‘some margin’’.
‘‘She was half the size of most of the competitors there last year,’’ she said.
The Gympie Show Rodeo is the biggest rodeo on the National Rodeo Association calendar held in Australia and is on the International pro circuit.
Sky will represent New Zealand alongside 13yearold rider April Fletcher.
The pair will battle it out with riders from Australia, the United States and Canada.
The competition, which has riders allocated horses via a draw, tests the competitors’ ability, skill and courage to run an unfamiliar mount as fast as they can.
‘‘Whatever horse I draw, I’ll be riding it as fast as I can,’’ Sky said.
She said she was sad to be leaving her horse Cougar behind next week.
‘‘Dad will be looking after him.’’
The event caps off an impressive 12 months for the Terrace School pupil.
Earlier this year, she won the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association junior title.
Last month she was nominated for Central Otago Junior Sportswoman of the Year, which was won by Wanaka snowboarder Zoi SadowskiSynnott.
The International Barrel Race event runs from May 1320.