27/07/2026
🇦🇺🤠 WHAT A WEEK. WHAT A TEAM. WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT.
And just like that, the 2026 National High School Finals Rodeo has come to an end.
Our Australian Senior Team arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska ready to take on some of the very best high school rodeo athletes in the world, and every single one of them gave us something to be proud of.
There were brilliant runs, big scores, personal bests, tough breaks, near misses and moments that will be talked about for a long time to come. Through all of it, our athletes carried the green and gold with determination, sportsmanship and pride.
While every member of this team deserves recognition, we want to give a special mention to those who finished inside the Top 100 in the world in their respective events, including four Australians who earned their place back in the Short Go to compete for a World Championship. 🇦🇺
🌟 SHORT GO & WORLD FINISHES
🇦🇺 Kayla – Girls Cutting
Top 7 heading into the Short Go with an aggregate score of 636.5
⭐ Finished 5th in the World after scoring 213 in the Short Go!
🇦🇺 Declan – Boys Cutting
Top 8 heading into the Short Go with an aggregate score of 641.5
⭐ Finished 7th in the World after scoring 212.5 in the Short Go!
🇦🇺 Harry – Boys Cutting
Top 9 heading into the Short Go with an aggregate score of 639.5
⭐ Finished 11th in the World after scoring 210 in the Short Go!
🇦🇺 Myles Williams – Reined Cowhorse
Top 20 heading into the Short Go with an aggregate score of 861
⭐ Finished 17th in the World after scoring 281.5 in the Short Go!
💚💛 TOP 100 WORLD FINISHES
🇦🇺 Bree – Girls Cutting | Top 21 | 421
🇦🇺 Piper – Reined Cowhorse | Top 22 | 570.5
🇦🇺 Bridie Palmer – Breakaway Roping | Top 30 | 6.47
🇦🇺 Jack – Boys Cutting | Top 35 | 414
🇦🇺 Jesse Remfrey – Saddle Bronc | Top 35 | 64
🇦🇺 Charlie Box – Saddle Bronc | Top 40 | 61
🇦🇺 Mitchell – Boys Cutting | Top 50 | 405
🇦🇺 Grant – Reined Cowhorse | Top 50 | 560.5
🇦🇺 Hannah – Girls Cutting | Top 60 | 402
🇦🇺 Jayde – Reined Cowhorse | Top 70 | 531.5
🇦🇺 Amani Young – Pole Bending | Top 85 | 46.127
🇦🇺 Mia – Girls Cutting | Top 100 | 341.5
But a world standing only tells part of the story.
For our Australian athletes, getting to the NHSFR start line is an achievement in itself. These competitors have travelled thousands upon thousands of kilometres from their homes across Australia before even crossing the Pacific. They've dealt with long haul flights, jet lag, completely different time zones, unfamiliar arenas and conditions, and the enormous task of sourcing, hiring and getting to know horses in the United States. Many have had only a short amount of time to build a partnership with a horse before stepping into an arena against competitors riding horses they know inside and out.
You won't see any of that beside their name on a results sheet.
What you will see is a group of Australians who stepped up, backed themselves and proved they can compete alongside the best. From making Short Gos and placing in performances to those heartbreaking results that missed qualification by the smallest of margins, there is so much to celebrate from this team.
To our AHSRA Board and volunteers, thank you for the countless hours behind the scenes that make opportunities like this possible. The planning, organising, fundraising and work involved in getting an Australian team onto the international stage is enormous, and these athletes simply wouldn't have this opportunity without you.
To the parents and families who travelled, thank you for everything it took to get there. The flights, accommodation, transport, horses, early mornings, late nights and everything in between. Your commitment to giving these young athletes this opportunity cannot be understated.
And to the parents, siblings, grandparents, friends and supporters who stayed home in Australia, set alarms for ridiculous hours, watched the Cowboy Channel, refreshed results and cheered from thousands of kilometres away, you were every bit a part of Team Australia too. 💚💛
A huge thank you also goes to everyone who supported and sponsored our Australian Senior Team. Your contribution helped turn an opportunity on the other side of the world into a reality for these athletes, and we are incredibly grateful to have you behind Australian High School Rodeo.
Beyond the placings, buckles, scores and times, this trip has given our athletes something even bigger: friendships, experience, confidence and memories they'll carry long after they've unpacked their gear back home.
To every member of our 2026 Australian Senior Team, congratulations.
Whether your name finished at the top of the standings, you narrowly missed a Short Go, or things simply didn't fall your way this week, you stepped onto one of the biggest stages in high school rodeo and represented your country.
You wore the green and gold with pride, and you did Australia proud. 🇦🇺
What a team. What a week. What a way to represent Australia.
Safe travels home, Team Australia. 💚💛🇦🇺
Stay tuned for more finals content to see what our team got up to outside the arena!
