Bennett, formerly of Worrigee and now based in Singleton, has combined with her horse Tequila to take out the rookie steer undecorating and allround titles, and eventually finished fifth in the open steer undecorating national rankings in the finals at Tamworth.

Bennett was delighted with her efforts.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said.

“It’s a great result and something I have really been working towards.”

Rookie competition is for competitors who have earned less than $2000 prizemoney.

She admitted after her first two nights of competition, where she struggled to gain her ribbon in the undecorating, she was a little nervous.

A third placing on the third evening of the finals ensured she would at least win the Rookie Overall Competition (where the competitor’s points from all competitions are added together), but the Rookie undecorating was still definitely up for grabs after Sue-Ellen Brazier from Townsville had managed to grab three ribbons in the opening three rounds.

It would come down to the final night of competition, but Bennett rose to the occasion and claimed her ribbon to secure the title.

These placings also enabled her to finish fifth overall in the open event.

“It was fantastic to win the double and fifth overall in the opens was pleasing,” she said.

“There were competitors from everywhere, WA, North Queensland and NSW it was amazing.”

And to win the title in front of her proud father Terry was also “special.”

“Mum (Maureen) and dad have been great supporters, they have done a lot of years of travelling so it was great to be able to win the titles in front of dad, but unfortunately mum couldn’t get up for the finals.”

And also to claim the title of her beloved charge Tequila, with whom she qualified for the USA High School finals a few years back.

“He’s 15 years old this year and to be able to win a couple of national finals on him has been fantastic,” she said.

“We have been together for 10 years, I started competing with him in junior barrel races, and we then moved over to undecorating and it is great to now win some national crowns.”

While the season may have officially finished in November, the finals aren’t staged until January and in between that the next season has already got under way.

But Bennett will be taking things a little bit easier this season.

“I did a lot of travelling to rodeos all over last year and this year I won’t be travelling as far,” she said.