He might be only seven years old, but young Ed Whibley is now an Australian champion whipcracker, after smashing the competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this week.
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The Moree youngster managed to out-whip the bigger and older competition to claim the Australian title in the pee wee (eight years and under) section of the 2019 AWAP R.M. Williams Australian Whipcracking Championships.
Ed was one of eight competitors in his age division, so mum Lisa Whibley said it was a big achievement for the youngster to win, beating last year's second-place effort.
"We're really proud of him," she said.
"The girl he beat was a lot bigger and he's only seven.
"He really smashed it."
Ed was not the only member of his whipcracking family to have success at the Australian championships, with his three older sisters competing, as well as their mum Lisa who decided to have a crack in the over 45s division this year.
Mrs Whibley came fourth out of four, but said she had a great time.
"I took part," she laughed.
"I'm now over 45, so I don't have to compete in the ladies division anymore," Lisa said of her reasons for getting out the whip this year.
"The over 45s is more fun. I'll go out and have a go with the kids, I don't take it too seriously."
Twelve-year-old Georgia had the next best result, coming second in the juvenile (eight to 12 years) section, which was an improvement on last year's fifth place.
Meanwhile, older sister Sophia stepped up to the junior (under 16s) division after turning 13 this year. Although she placed eighth, Mrs Whibley said she did well considering she was one of the youngest competitors and up against the likes of Moree champion whipcracker Henry Pitman, who retained his Australian title for another year, and her eldest sister Paris who placed sixth.
Paris also competed in three other events at this year's Royal Easter Show - the fruit and vegetable junior judging, grain junior judging, and, for the first time, in the junior cattle handling.
As a result, she clocked up the kilometres these school holidays, making three separate 1,200km round trips to Sydney from Moree.
Although she didn't place in her other events, Mrs Whibley said Paris was just happy to qualify.
"There's a whole grandstand of people looking at you and you've got to stand up and talk - it's a big thing," she said.
With five of the seven members of the family - dad Kerry and eldest brother Hamish stick to the sidelines - competing in this year's show, the Whibley's received national attention when they were invited to appear on Channel 7s The Morning Show with Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies.
"It was very exciting for all of us," Mrs Whibley said.
Even more exciting was the fact that Human Nature were backstage at the same time as the Whibleys, and the family had the opportunity to "have a normal conversation with them" and pose for a photo with the boy band.
"I was star struck," Mrs Whibley laughed.
This was the third year the Whibleys have competed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and Mrs Whibley said their results are getting better all the time, and the standard of competition keeps improving.
Mrs Whibley would like to thank Moree's Pitman family, particularly Henry and Georgia, for their "tireless" guidance and support.
"Every time we come to town, we pull up at the Pitmans' and get a lesson," she said.
"Henry and Georgia have been great with the time they've put in with the kids."
The Whibleys will do a demonstration at Moree Show this weekend before enjoying a well-deserved break from training.