Mount Isa barrel racer Chantel Huddy has claimed three Australian titles while competing in Warwick last weekend.
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Huddy competed in the Australian Professional Rodeo finals and rode in four rounds of the final on a borrowed horse called Mick.
"We had a pearler of a week placing third in the first round, I won the second and third rounds and came second in the fourth round," she said.
"This was enough to pick me up the 2019 APRA Barrel Racing Championship."
Because her times were so fast during her four rounds, Huddy also won the Aggregate Championship; but her success didn't stop there.
With Huddy leading the standings before the finals, winning the most money during the season, she also took out the Pro Tour Championship, walking away with three championship buckles in total.
Huddy said the thought of being the Australian barrel racing champion was still surreal.
"I still can't believe that we managed to do it," she said.
"This title is the biggest thing you can do in this country for barrel racing."
Huddy said taking out the trifecta was not her goal at the start of the season.
"The horse I rode this season belongs to some close friends of mine," she said.
"He was just sitting in the paddock and they called me and asked if I wanted to campaign Mick for the season and have a few competitive runs. I thought yeah, why not? And then we have had the best season ever."
Huddy competed in nine professional rodeos in Queensland and said that was the icing on the cake.
"We were so consistent placing at every pro rodeo we went to, that I didn't have to leave Queensland," she said.
"Some barrel racers travel all over Australia to accumulate enough prize money to chase a title, and generally that is what you have to do.
"The main highlight from the season was winning Mount Isa, in front of my hometown crowd. It's the biggest rodeo in the country, all competitors aim to win at Mount Isa."
Claiming the APRA title is not the end for Huddy, as she continues to compete for the National Rodeo Association championship.
Huddy will compete in the finals over three rounds in three towns over three weekends.
"We travel to Maryborough, then Stanthorpe and finish in Caboolture," she said.
"I am currently second in the standings, but it is hard to make up ground when the person leading is a long way out in front. I cannot make it to every rodeo with a young family, but we have had a good season.
"I have to credit it all to this awesome horse I am riding, he is the coolest horse I have ever ridden and he seems to just fit me."
Huddy is still too busy to be thinking about what her plan is for next year, however she said she would like to continue riding Mick at professional rodeos.
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