Australian call surprises young rodeo rider

Sky Sanders (10), with her horse, Cougar, looks forward to competing in an international barrel race in Australia next week. Photo / Tom Kitchin

She has never been overseas, never been on a plane and had to get an emergency passport for her trip.

But Alexandra girl Sky Sanders is extremely excited to be travelling to Australia on Sunday to represent New Zealand at the Gympie Show Rodeo.

"It's pretty cool, an opportunity for me to go and actually compete there," Sky said.

The show, in Gympie, Queensland, is the biggest rodeo on the Australian National Rodeo Association calendar and is part of the international professional rodeo circuit.

Sky and another girl from Canterbury will be competing in Australia on borrowed horses from May 17-19.

Sky has been competing in rodeos for the last two years.

She was third in junior barrel racing at a recent national rodeo and was all round junior champion in the Central Racing Barrel Series, held in Central Otago for South Island rodeo competitors about two weeks ago.

About a week ago, she was given the opportunity to compete in Australia and her parents did not want to disappoint her.

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," mother Shelly Sanders said.

"Whatever our children's sport, we'll support them 110%."

Sky's dream was to go to Canada to compete in bigger rodeos and represent New Zealand in the country's secondary school rodeo team.