By TANIA PHILLIPS
ORGANISERS are predicting the biggest ever Stanthorpe Campdraft with more than 180 individual riders from all over Northern NSW and Southern Queensland expected to take part in next month’s event.
The event, which has been held for almost 60 years, is scheduled for the Stanthorpe Showgrounds on 1 and 2 March.
“This will be our biggest campdraft ever with 720 first round runs, 180 individual riders and 350 horses on the ground over the two days,” organising committee secretary Paula Boatfield said.
“We have attracted new sponsors, have a wealth of fantastic prizes and more $3000 worth of prize money up for grabs. Entries are closed to competitors but spectators over the weekend are more than welcome.
Beaudesert rider Sue Harrison will be back to try and defend her title from last year and win the main prize – which includes a Bill Glasgow plaited stockwhip as well as a share of the $800 prize money on offer in the division.
In fact Ms Boatfield said if Sue Harrison can win she will be keep up a bit of a tradition of recent times.
“For the past two years the open draft has been won by women,” she laughed.
“Apparently a lot of the guys are pretty keen to stop this trend.”
The draft, which has been growing steadily for the past three years since becoming a two-day event, will return to it’s regular time of year after a wash-out caused it to be moved to May in 2013.
And while rain hampered last year’s event, it has been the dry weather that has worried organisers this year, Ms Boatfield said.
“We really appreciate our cattle suppliers who, even in this dry weather, have still offered stock to us,” she said.
The two-day event will start at 7am (Queensland time) each day and include a large number of categories for all riders including the encouragement draft, junior pony draft, juvenile event, novice and open event.
The Stanthorpe Camp draft Sub committee will start the weekend with a sausage sizzle on the Friday night with the Agricultural Society Catering Committee offering a two-course dinner on the Saturday night, with a DJ also providing music until 11pm.
