Team Penning

Team Penning Australia was formed in 2007 by a group of people who wanted to have uniform rules throughout Australia for Team Penning. With the assistance of the USATPA and Phil Mainey, the decision was made to go ahead.

TPA Inc is based in Tamworth NSW.  A general meeting was held with all interested parties in late 2007 and President elect Bob Lee was happy with the decision that was made - that the mainstream of the association was for uniform rules and for other small clubs to affiliate with TPA Inc.

With the sport being so popular throughout New England, the North West regions of NSW and all over Australia, the need was there to make it all happen. TPA Inc held its first official day on 14^th Feb 2009 at the Don Willis Indoor Arena holding the first “Team Penning Clinic” in Australia conducted by Phil Mainey, who was the 2007-2008 US Team Penning Champion. This day was very successful with Phil hoping to return at 2 yearly intervals for clinics.

From then on TPA has held a team penning day on the 3^rd Sunday of each month with great success.

September 2009 at AELEC  was the first of many charity events with TPA donating $4000 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service based in Tamworth.

2010 has begun with great participation from riders all over NSW.  Arena Sorting was introduced with TPA being the first to hold this event in Australia. Arena Sorting has become a very popular horse sport and in the US has become more popular with competitors than team penning.

TPA was represented by 2 teams this year at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, one of which placed third - this was a great honour for TPA to have such a high level of riders gunning with the best.

This year will see the inaugural “Australian Team Penning National Championships” to be held over 4 days from Thursday 23^rd – Sunday 26^th September 2010 at AELEC-Tamworth NSW.