A SUCCESSFUL buck jump ride catapulted Tooma’s John Mitchell to a hat-trick of Man From Snowy River Bush Festival open challenge crowns at Corryong on Sunday.
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Mitchell’s title defence was hanging by a thread when he entered the final day in third place and was unable to complete a brumby catch in the first of the two final events.
He was also the second last competitor to compete in the buck jump, but was able to stay on for the required eight seconds and earn 66 points to shoot to the top of the leaderboard.
Lance Anderson improved four placings on his overnight score to grab second place behind Mitchell with Sam Webb filling third place.
Queenslander Emma O’Shea completed a fifth win in the women’s challenge with Beechworth’s Kelsie Lupson and Oxleys’s Ellen Forge rounding out the placings.
Mitchell’s three successive wins have all been aboard Halls Chickenman.
His brother and former challenge winner, David, began finals day in second spot, but finished fifth ahead of overnight leader, Chris Sherwood.
David Mitchell fell in the buck jump with just half a second to go.
His brother said the pressure was right on at the end.
“It was a tough final and came up good in the end,” he said.
“My (buck jump) horse was pretty juicy to.
“I just had to get the job done and the rest worked itself out. The first one was pretty sweet, but they are all pretty sweet.”
Just two of the top 10, Lincoln Adams and Michael Green, made a successful catch in the brumby catch.
O’Shea’s five victories in the women’s challenge equals the same number of open victories recorded by Scott Bandy, whose son Travis won the junior event.
O’Shea gave birth to a baby boy, Connor, only six weeks ago.
“It is a good accomplishment,” she said.
“Everything has gone good since I had the baby six weeks ago and my partner has been keeping my horse fit.
“There was never any doubt I was going to compete.
“It is special to win again because I’ve got friends who come down and drive 3000km every year to get here.
“May dad (Frank) didn't come down the first year, but he has been here the past four.”
O’Shea was also riding the same horse, Hilite Dad’s Acres, as last year and has been kept fit competing in camp drafts.
Mitchell finished the three days of competition on 571.2 points ahead of Anderson on 550 and Webb 539.8.
Cudgewa’s Adam Wheeler, competing in his ninth and final challenge, climbed into fourth spot ahead of David Mitchell.
