BARREL RACING: TWO local girls have stormed home to win their age group divisions at the Whitsunday Horse Performance Association's Barrel Races on Friday night.

The barrel racing event was staged in combination with the ASH Campdraft run over the weekend at the Proserpine Showground.

Klancy Higgins from Bloomsbury's Exmoor Station took out the nine and Under 13 age group with a solid run of 20.64 seconds.

Not to be outdone Bridget Dray from Gunyarra had a blistering run and clocked a time of 19.32 seconds in the 13 and Under 18s.

In the 18-year and over ladies, Julie Terry from Collinsville took first prize with 19.75 seconds.

WHPA President Tania Plemenuk said the event was designed to give locals a taste of what barrel racing was all about.

Plemenuk said the sport of barrel racing was growing in popularity and provided fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action.

"There is a lot of skill in barrel racing that a lot of people don't realise. A lot of technique goes into making sure your turns are tight and nice and neat," she said.

"It's not just speed there is a lot of talent and technique."

Riders came from as far north as Townsville and from as far south as the Rockhampton area.

This made Higgins' win in the nine and Under-13 age group that much more special - she described it as "awesome" to get that result on Friday night.

"We have been have been doing well for a year or so and we stepped it up a bit tonight," she said.

Higgins said she travelled to Charters Towers every month to compete in National Barrel Horse Association and Australian Team Roping Association events to earn qualifying points.

She said it felt good to win in front of her home crowd.