Any family would be thrilled with an Australian Title to their name but husband and wife, Josh and Bec Barnett, each came away with individual titles after outstanding performances at the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) bringing a solid sense of achievement to the Singleton household.
After qualifying in sensational circumstances, the pair competed at the National Titles in Tamworth last month.
The National Finals Rodeo is the ABCRA’s biggest event with hundreds of competitors travelling from all over the nation to compete. Throughout the year riders compete at several ABCRA affiliated events to accumulate points and the top point scorers in each rodeo discipline are invited to compete in the National Finals.
Josh qualified for the finals in four events, the first time any competitor had achieved this feat in more than 20 years.
He was leading the saddlebronc and knew he had this Aussie title ahead of the event. Backing his skill, Josh made sure it wasn’t just a point score advantage but a title he won in his own right.
He finished in the top ten in his other events of steer wrestling, rope and tie and team roping.
The points at the finals and over the 2025 competition year saw him finish second in the All Round Cowboy title by less than a miniscule three points.
Meanwhile Bec was equally successful qualifying for the steer undecorated going into the event second on the point score.
The three events over three nights saw Bec finish first in the first round, second in the second and fourth in the third, enough to win her the average and the National Title.
Both won national trophy saddles, the second time they have won a trophy of this type in the past 12 months and when asked if they may need a bigger trophy cabinet, Josh agreed with a humble ‘maybe’.
Josh and Bec both work fulltime but also contribute to Josh’s family business, Barn Lodge Stockhorses that breeds and trains stockhorses and in more recent years, have developed their own quarter horse/stockhorse breed.
Josh’s involvement with the family business goes back many years. Now 30 years of age, Josh sold his first horse at the Tamworth sales at just 14 and has done so since.
He thanks his parents, Annette and Richard Barnett, for allowing him to embrace the horse industry on diverse levels.
He also thanks his employer.
He started working at Morgan Engineering on leaving school at the age of 16, undergoing a fitter machinist apprenticeship. After rising through the ranks he now holds the position of Customer Services Manager.
Morgan Engineering have always supported Josh’s ABRCA endeavours but, especially on the back of an outstanding national performance, the company has formalised Josh’s sponsorship in the form of travel cards, support with social media and time away from his desk when competition calls.
“Morgan Engineering has always been good to me, this support with the costs of travel when we are going to Queensland, Victoria and throughout New South Wales to compete is really going to help a lot and I thank them very much,” Josh said.
-DI SNEDDON
