And lucky for Kelly Wicks of Bunnan, when she batted her eyelids at mum and dad and asked them to get back in the saddle after a long break to make up a team penning team – they said yes.

And the rest they say is history. 

The family trio have just cleaned up at the Team Penning Australia National titles held in Canowindra from September 11 to 14 bringing home three trophy saddles in the arena sorting with a close second in the team penning event.  

David Wicks said he was glad his daughter had been so persuasive after a 10 year spell from riding.

“Kelly started team penning five years ago and when one of the team had to pull out for 12 months to recover from a hip injury she put the hard word on me.

“It’s hard to say no, especially when she is your only daughter.

It wasn’t long before mum Von was also roped into the team after a 16 year break from riding. 

“We went from one horse to six horses in about six months.

“I think the reason we work so well together as a team, the way we work a beast we are all similar.

“But it takes teamwork and good communication to win at team penning,” Mrs Wicks said. 

Which obviously proved the winning formula for the talented Wicks team this month.

“Winning at the nationals has been the highlight for us for sure.

“The horses (Be-Oki, Pyro and Smartie) all went brilliantly despite the cattle being exceptionally tough,” Mr Wicks said. 

The family are strong supporters of the Bunnan Sports Club, one of few combined campdraft and team penning clubs in NSW.

“Team penners and campdrafters generally lock horns, but not at our club we all get on really well.

“We run two team penning events a year and the campdraft with all the money we make going back into the    facilities and local charities,” Mr Wicks said.

This weekend is the last team penning event for the year at Bunnan on September 27 and 28 which will feature open team penning on Saturday and arena sorting on Sunday.