William Tapp of Allora has ridden his son Charles’s homebred mare Lonesome Dove Flight to victory in the Black Truck & Ag Chinchilla Grandfather Clock campdraft.
From a record field of 640 starters, the former Northern Territorian combined scores of 91, 90 and 90 in the final (aggregate score of 271 points) to hold a single point lead in the fiercely-fought competition.
Before this victory, Mr Tapp’s best place in a campdraft was fourth while the 12-year-old Lonesome Dove Flight – sired by Hott Spot and out of Double Dove – was a novice mare.
“Yeah, (it feels) very, very good, pleasing to come here,” Mr Tapp said.
“It’s just an honour to win it and it’s my son Charles’s mare and we bred her. She’s a home-bred mare and we nearly lost her a few years ago.
“(Winning has) not really exceeded my expectations but you’ve got to have a lot of things go your way to get there. Yeah, I just feel good and feel like I’ve accomplished something that I wanted to.
“Tick-tock, tick-tock, it’s a great thrill.”
Charleville’s Kylie McPhee, meanwhile, won the Sandon Glenoch Angus Grandmother Clock campdraft with 181 points, riding her 11-year-old homebred stallion Denmark Victor, sired by Brown Victory and out of Denmark Coreena.
This combination won the 2022 and 2024 maiden novice/ horse and rider event at Chinchilla.
“No words, yeah, it’s extraordinary,” Ms McPhee said.
“It means the world to me. This is very much a highlight of my campdrafting career.
“Victor, he’s my unicorn, definitely, he’s an extraordinary animal, he’s so soft, very easy to live with, he’s a very human-loving, kind- natured animal and yeah, I’m just very blessed to have him on the track.”
For the first time, consistent campdraft campaigner Pete Comiskey and his 16-year-old grey gelding Ervines Just Jim – sired by Soda Justice out of Ervines Chicko – won the Knudsen Family Restricted Open.
“Full credit to the Knudsen family, they’ve been long-time supporters here at Chinchilla,” Mr Comiskey said.
“It’s a magnificent event over five days and full credit to the committee. There’s only a few people that put in 110 per cent and we from the north enjoy coming down and appreciate all the work that they go through.
“I feel very honoured to win. It’s always good to be a part of it but it’s always better to be at the top of it, if that makes sense.
“So to get the opportunity to win. I mean, there’s any one of hundreds of people today in this competition that can win. They just need a good steer.
“And I was lucky to get two good steers on a very good horse and luck swung my way so I get the win here.
“You need that bit of lady luck with you.”
There were “fist pumps all round” when, from a field of 500 starters, Luke McEwan from Sheep Station Creek held off a narrow margin to win the Australian Stockmans Saddlery Novice with 273 points, riding Mr Stitch on behalf of owner David Duncan.
He combined scores of 90, 91 and 92 in the final to secure the victory.
Mt Stich is a 15-year-old gelding sired by Eskdale West Joe Cody and out of Miss Okie Quixote, bred by the late Ray Beasley.
“Just putting three together is always a good feeling, but with a big start in the yards you always know you’re in with a shot,” Mr McEwan said.
“He’s a good pony and when it all comes together it’s great. It’s always a big deal.
“This is probably the biggest novice in the country to have to go three rounds over 90 each run. Just to make the final of these big drafts is good but to come out on top, it is an amazing feeling.”
Aimee Jamieson riding CD won the RDO Equipment Australia Maiden/Novice horse and rider campdraft.
Ms Jamieson, formerly from Tamworth, NSW and now from North Queensland, made the 12-hour trip south to Chinchilla.
“It means a lot just because to win anything is a real honour but he’s a very special horse to me and I’m very proud of him,” Ms Jamieson said.
“Yes, it’s very special.
“We’re really enjoying being here though. We make an effort to come down every year. It’s one of our favourite drafts.
“I’m stoked. I couldn’t be happier.”
Sponsor of the Saddled Cut Out, Sam Greenup from Rosevale Santa Gertrudis was a popular winner when he combined with Spin Rey to win the event (the Rosevale Santa Gertrudis Saddle Cut Out) with 47.5 points over the two rounds.
Spin Rey is owned in partnership between Rory Fitzgerald and Joe Payne.
“Yeah, no, it’s cool,” Mr Greenup said. “He’s a proper horse and he was pretty cool. It means a lot to win the event.
“It’s pretty easy when you’ve got the calibre of horse like Spin Rey. He does it all himself. I was just sitting there.
“But no, our family’s proud to sponsor (at) Chinchilla. It’s been a big part of our lives, Chinchilla itself.
“And it’s good to give back to the community and sponsor a draft. The committee that is involved here, they all mean a lot to our family and we’re happy to sponsor them.”
Cattle donors at Chinchilla included NAPCO, Bottle Tree Pastoral, Batman Pastoral, Knudsen Cattle, Sandon Glenoch Angus, Greg and Annemaire Flynn and Condabri Beef.
Black Truck & Ag Chinchilla Grandfather Clock
1. William Tapp & Lonesome Dove Flight – 271
2. Mick Southern & Neirbo President – 270
2. Evan Hiscock & Nix – 270
2. Bryony Puddicombe & Toonga Chrome – 270
4. Cheyenne O’Brien & Neirbo Party Girl – 269
5. Erica Hanrahan & Bobadil Destinys Diamond – 268
5. Jason Lindley & Genuine Chex – 268
5. Jason Lindley Amac Mrs Brown – 268
7. Charlie Curr & Johnny Rebecca – 267
7. Lachie Sheppard & Lawson – 267
7. Ben Hall & Halls Eltorrio – 267
7. Rohan Marks & Turnermarks Editor – 267
7. Kerry Turner & Emerald Emily – 267
Cut Out – Joe Payne & Spin Rey.
Sandon Glenoch Angus Grandmother Clock
1. Kylie McPhee & Denmark Victor – 181
2. Kerry Turner & Hingis – 180
2. Jess Hoffmann & Lady Antebellum – 180
4. Sarah Dillon & One Stylish Desire – 179
4. Toni Fallon & Cody – 179
4. Jaye Hall & Halls Posh Rio – 179
6. Kerry Wallace & Sky Cat – 178
6. Deb O’Brien & Neirbo Nicolette – 178
8. Kylie Graham & Metallic Moon – 177
10. Amie Jamieson & Dulcie Style – 176
10. Kate Southern & Shesa Blue Badger – 176
Cut Out – Coralie Daly & Wild Bill – 24.
Australian Stockmans Saddlery Novice
1. Luke McEwan & Mr Stitch – 273
2. Peter O’Neill & Toytime – 272
3. John Mulcahy & Stratton Gest A Tradition – 269
3. Ben Hall & Halls Eldorrio – 269
5. Michael Hayes & Romantic Remedy – 267
5. Mat Durkin & Call Girl – 267
7. Matt Moffat & One Tome Devine – 264
7. Steve Comiskey & D’vone Acres – 264
7. Joe Payne & Brenwon Tamigo – 264
9. Michael Hayes & Bullwaddy Brownstone – 263
Cut Out – Luke McEwan & Mr Stitch.
