Men from Snowy River Take the Challenge

THERE must be something in the water at Tumut, or perhaps it is just the breed of stock man from the Snowy Mountains that led to Sam Webb claiming the title of King of the Ranges and 14 year old Tom Denson taking out Junior King of the Ranges last weekend in Murrurundi.

Sam Webb from Tumut was crowned this year’s King of the Ranges in Murrurundi. Photo: Patricia Taylor Photography.

Sam Webb said it is the first time he has won a challenge and he is already looking forward to heading back to Murrurundi next year.

“It’s been a long time coming, I’ve made the finals up there before a couple of times and come second up there and made the finals at Corryong and other big challenges around, but this was my first win so it was really good,” said Mr Webb.

“I really enjoy it I like the different aspects to make up the one weekend, they are all so different from each other so you have to be versatile and be on your game right across the board, it’s not just one thing you can train yourself and your horse for you’ve got to have a crack at everything,” he said.

“They run a really good show up there and the committee always look after the competitors and the crowds the whole atmosphere is that little bit more laid back the competition is just as fierce as anywhere else,” he said.

“It’s always a good show up there, we’ve always had good fun and we just love going up there it’s one of those places that you can’t wait to go back to for the next round,” Sam Webb said.

His junior counterpart Tom Denson has only been doing challenges for the last four years and loves the

“You can do so many different events and if you have a bad event it’s not the end of the world, because you’ve got another one comin’ up soon,” said Mr Denson.

“I’ve been to the Man from Snowy River, the Battle on the Bidgee at Gundagai, Roseville stock man’s challenge and King Valley’s stock man’s challenge at Oxley and the King of the Ranges is definitely up there,” he said.

“It’s pretty good to win it, yeah,” Tom Denson said.

Tom Denson with Travis Brady and Darcy Rixon at the King of the Ranges. Photo by: Tom Carmel Trease.