With its relaxed atmosphere and perfect mix of social and sport, campdrafting continues to boom throughout Queensland.
Each week, according to Australian Campdraft Association (ACA) president Rohan Marks, members would “easily” complete more than 1700 individual runs at official campdrafts.
Supply well exceeds demand, he said, with most committees running a wait list for their events.
“Nominations received each week far exceed the number of runs that eventuate,” Mr Marks said.
“Campdrafting continues to be a family sport.
“There are so many activities that happen outside of the arena that our campdraft families enjoy – from trade stalls, to auctions, to fundraising, right through to kids’ gymkhanas.
“The positive contributions that the sport of campdrafting makes to rural and regional communities are undeniable.”
The 2022 Triple Crown staged at Condamine, Chinchilla and Warwick attracted more than 870 competitors from Queensland, the Northern Territory, Victoria, Western Australia and NSW.
In all, 3550 first round runs were completed as competitors vied for $520,000 in prizemoney.
“The competition at all three events was very strong,” Mr Marks said.
“Due to favourable seasonal conditions, the cattle were the best we have ever presented and the grounds were very safe.”
Beginning as a friendly rivalry among stockmen, campdrafting has evolved into a popular weekend activity for both amateurs and professionals.
Mr Marks said ACA membership generally reaches a total of 9500 members per year.
He said while wet weather eventually caused the “incredibly” popular high school event to be cancelled last October in Dalby it had attracted more than 400 students from 25 schools.
He said this demonstrated the sport’s growth and the enthusiasm from young people.
In April 2022, the ACA celebrated its 50-year anniversary at Springsure.
“It was a huge success,” Mr Marks said.
“The ACA-affiliated committee that hosted it for us did an incredible job, so much so that they were named ‘Committee Event of the Year’ at the Central Highland Regional Council’s Australia Day awards.
“We are looking forward to our next national finals in April, which will be hosted by the Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge Association.”
CAMPDRAFT FACT FILE
* In a campdrafting competition, a rider on horseback must “cut out” one beast from the mob of cattle and block and turn it at least two times to prove to the judge they have the beast under control.
* They then take it out of the yard or camp and through a course around pegs involving right and left hand turns in a figure eight, before guiding it through two pegs known as “the gate”.
* The outside course must be completed in less than 40 seconds.
* Events for juniors between eight and 13 years have one sound beast in the yard at all times.
* In other events, it is recommended that there shall be a minimum of six head of sound stock in the yard at any time.
* Up to a total of 100 points are scored by horse and rider: “Cut out” is worth a total of 26 points; horse work up to a further 70 points and four points for the course.
* Most disqualifications (signalled by a crack of the judge’s stockwhip) occur when a competitor loses his beast more than twice on the camp; losing control of the beast in the arena or running a beast onto the arena fence.
* A “tail turn” executed by a horse in the opposite direction of the beast’s line of travel also incurs disqualification at any stage of the draft.
* The sport requires consummate horsemanship and skill in selecting a beast from the mob that will run well, but is not too fast for that particular horse.
* Great prestige is bestowed on the winning horse and rider of the competition.
Source: campdraft.com.au
