After a two year hiatus due to severe drought and a global pandemic, campdrafting has returned to the Gloucester Showground.
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Around 1000 competitors took part in the Gloucester Junior Rodeo hosted open event on May 29, 30 and 31.
According to event organiser, Kelvin Gregory the number of entries was down on the 2019 event which saw almost 1200 competitors.
"There are a lot of other big drafts on. Some (competitors) are waiting for Glowalman," Kevin said.
The Glowalman Championships is a near week long annual event that takes place at Gloucester, Wallamba and Wingham during the July school holidays.
Kelvin also reckons that many families are still recovering financially after a pretty hard couple of years.
Given how tough it has been for the agricultural sector, Kelvin was really impressed to have so many people travel in for the campdraft. As well as many from the region, there were also people from Inverell and Merriwa, from as far north as Kemspey and as far south as Sydney.
"It was very good to have all those fellas," Kelvin said.
There were also a raft of family competitors taking part.
"We had three father and son combinations competing and one father and daughter. All of them place-getters," he explained.
There were Grant and Hayden Whatham from Singleton, Scott and Nicholas Edwards from Stroud, Ian and Lachlan Sansom from Gloucester, and Wayne and Jessica Murray from Nabiac.
The major winner from over the weekend was Tyler Berkley from Inverell who picked up the top prize in the Open 4 Open Campdraft and the Open Campdraft. Four years ago, Tyler was chosen after the Glowalman competition to represent NSW in Western Australia.
"We was very successful in WA," Kelvin said.
Top rank competitors from the Gloucester event were:
Open 4 Open Campdraft - 1st Tyler Berkley (Erin Raise the Bar), equal 2nd Emma Burges (Ringer) and Tony Mortimer (Little Abby), equal 4th Dean Turner (Kellyville Mack) and Pat Gillis (Juliette)
Open Campdraft (Novice/Open horses only) - 1st Tyler Berkley (Quntion), equal 2nd Darren Brislane (Spins Gypsy King) and Pat Gillis (Vale), equal 4th Scott Edwards (Keno), Tyler Berkley (Erin Raise the Bar) and Wayne Murray (Ela Kookaburra).
Novice CD A (divided section) - 1st Grant Whatham (Reflection), 2nd Lachlan Sansom (Twighlight), 3rd Ian Samson (Action), 4th Tony Mortimer (Coxy's Regret), 5th Tim Hollis (Jdee).
Novice CD A (divided section) - 1st Kane Drayton (Warrenbri Luke), 2nd Grant Whatham (Reflection), equal 3rd Ian Sansom (Lucy Triple H) and Wyatt Young (Bullseye Banjo), equal 5th Andrew Caddis (Peelvale Teles Again), Jeanette Murray (Ela Miss Muffit) and Peter Fry (Prince).
Novice CD B - 1st Vicki Evans (Talawahl Classic Destiny), 2nd Lewis Dorney (Kitten In a Cap), 3rd Maurice Bogie (Magic), 4th Darcy Argue (Lillybelle), 5th Barry Lee (Lil Lucy).
Maiden CD A - 1st Nicholas Edwards (Pacman), 2nd Tony Mortimer (Coxy's Regret), equal 3rd Andrew Caddis (Peelvale Teles Again) and Bruce Snape (Nova), 5th Dwayne Ware (Willow).
Maiden CD B - 1st Reagan O'Donnell, equal 2nd Andrew MacDonald (Otis), Brittany Hetherington (Wilstock Poppy) and Paul Kelly (Patty), equal 5th Jaimee Vlastuin (Chance) and Jim Southeron (Belle).
Ladies Campdraft - 1st Vicki Evans (Talawahl Classic Destiny), 2nd Tracey O'Donnell (Jackeroo), 3rd Kyra O'Brien (Miette), 4th Jaimee Vlastuin (Chance), 5th Amy Bonsor (Player Fortyniner).
Juvenile Campdraft (13-u17yrs) - 1st Hayden Whatham (Green Gully Linda), 2nd Logan Berkley (Erin Raise the Bar), 3rd Lachlan Corrigan (Sonic), 4th Jessica Murray (Ela Glimmer), equal 5th Hayden Whatham (Josie) and Mackenzie Berkley (Lyra Park Rosella).
Junior Campdraft - (8-u13yrs) 1st Zac Moore (Bronze), 2nd Emity Croft (Rita), 3rd Zac Moore (Ceejay), equal 4th Savanna Carruthers (Ozzie) and Savanna Carruthers (Maccona).
The campdraft was made possible thanks to the generous support of its many sponsors, with a special mention going out to Campbell Engineering for working tirelessly to get the new drafting yards ready in time.
Also, the campdraft wouldn't have happened without the provision of cattle donated from Michael and Natalie Simshauser, Robert MacKenzie, Andrew Helmers, John Higgins, Don and Michele Dunlop, Nick and Kylie Johnston, Scott and Leonie Edwards, Laurie and Christine Casalini and Howard and Jenny Shultz.
Gloucester Junior Rodeo is now looking forward to seeing Glowalman return after having been cancelled last year due to COVID, and according to Kelvin, they are expecting a good number of entries this year.
"We've had people calling since Christmas time wondering if it was going ahead," Kelvin said. "We have all the cattle ready - roughly 400 head."
The 2021 Glowalman Junior Campdraft, Challenge and Sporting Championships will take place from Monday July 5 to Saturday July 10. For more information, visit the Glowalman Championships Facebook page.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
