It was an early start to a packed two days when the Nowendoc Campdraft got underway at 6.30am on New Year’s Eve. More than 200 competitors had signed up to participate across the eight events and according to organiser Nola Nicholson they gave the Ladies Auxiliary at the helm of the canteen the “best results they had ever had.”
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“We won’t know the exact details until we do the wash up,” Nola hastened to add, still recovering from the immense task of organising the event.
“The ground stood up really well and there were no major accidents,” she said, adding that some of the best campdrafting witnessed anywhere took place on the second day.
Indeed, the pace was on from day one with the Chris Paterson Maiden Draft. Jackson King scored 88 aboard Squirt, winning them the first round. The cut-out for the maiden draft was won by Luke Bennett riding Sydelle but the eventual winner was Jim Southeron of Walcha, riding his landmark horse Maldo with a two round score of 172.
The Gooch Agencies Ladies Draft attracted some of the top female riders from across NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory. Walcha rider Sue Hourigan riding Mello Spin scored 86 as did fellow Walcha rider Kerry Hollis on Florence and Amanda Nicholson on Miss Dee. A run off was called to separate the three competitors. Hourigan claimed first place, followed by Nicholson in second, and Hollis taking out third.
The Marchant Bros Junior Draft was won by Mackenzie Berkley with Gloucester rider Travis Sansom taking second place on his horse Shine.
The Cameron Martin Juvenile Draft was won by Tyler Berkley. Second place went to Sam Colwell of Yarrowitch, third place by Armidale rider Cade Rossiter followed by Gloucester’s Olivia Gray on her horse Liberty. Sam Colwell also won the cut-out.
The Don Margery Perpetual Trophy for the highest scoring local juvenile rider was won by Lynsay Doolan of Wild Cattle Creek.
The Marchant Bros Encouragement Draft was won by Gloucester rider Claire Shultz aboard Angus, scoring 83. Committee member Kelly Stackman took second place with Walcha rider Jackson Noon finishing third.
The feature novice draft saw Jim Southeron score 89 in the first round. In the final Sam Colwell and Anthony Clare each produced scores of 180. Following a run off, Colwell took first place.
Round one of the Jan Morgan Livestock Open Draft was won by Andrew Chapman with a score of 90. He was closely followed by Neil Faint and Rob Leach who each scored 89. But the eventual winner was Ben Rossiter who finished ahead of Peter Grills and Gloucester’s Fred Paterson.
“There was some great camp drafting and the cattle were exceptional,” Nola said, thanking the committee members, the five cattle donating property owners, the truckers and of course the judges for making the draft a success.
