Guests attending the beloved Chinchilla Grandfather Clock Campdraft taking place from Thursday, October 19 to Sunday, October 22, will be in for a treat with hundreds of competitors from all over Australia set to battle it out for more than $60,000 in prize money.
The iconic and heavily contested Ainsworth Motors and New Holland Grandfather Clock Open Draft will start on Friday and continue through Saturday with the second round and finals action to take place later in the day. In all, $36,706 in prize money and the $5000 Grandfather Clock will be available to be seized ensuring highly experienced champion rider Scott Schoo will have his hands full judging the placegetters for the event.
The winner of the Open Draft will also receive a free service to One Moore Daddy donated by Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantaur Park Performance Horse, Clermont.
The final of the EnVision Partners Novice Draft will also be held on the Saturday with Trader Wilson to determine the winners for the event which offers $12,580 in prize money. The winner will also take home an exquisite glass trophy and a free service to Adios Cherokee, donated by Wes and Vicki Radke, Home, Monogorilby.
Following the presentation on Saturday night for the Novice and Open drafts, competitors and spectators will be able to celebrate and have a yarn with friends and family at the bar while being entertained by Bundaberg band Barlight.
The thrills will begin immediately on Thursday with the Knudsen Family Restricted Open Draft to be judged by Kelli Bond. The winner of the Restricted Open Draft will receive a free service to stallion Kirkbys Stud Ambition, kindly donated by Wayne and Lesley Dennien and Ashley Harrison.
An event certain to prove popular with spectators is The Sandon Glenoch Angus Bare Back Cut Out which will be held on the Friday night and is limited to 20 riders. A portion of the total proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Drought Angels.
The event will conclude on a high note with the OneSteel Keating Brothers Grandmother Clock Ladies Draft, which offers $4,674 in prize money plus the $600 Grandmother Clock for the winner. The Ladies Draft winner will also receive a free service to Apt Stud Envy, donated by Simon Booth and Carla Baericke, Apt Performance Horses, Crystal Creek, NSW.
A competitors lucky draw will be held with the winner to receive a service fee to Seligman Spin donated by Peter and Debbie Gesler, Donell Park Stud. A trade stall display will be open with a great selection of clothing, jewellery, hats, saddlery, and more available for purchase.
The first Chinchilla Campdraft was held in May 1896 and has since grown into a national treasure for campdrafters Australia wide. The Grandfather Clock trophy was first donated almost 50 years ago.
It’s now considered one of the most prestigious campdrafts in Australia and is one of the 'big three' which also includes the Condamine Bell Campdraft and the Warwick Gold Cup which together form the Triple Crown series of campdrafts in October.
To win the Triple Crown a competitor must ride the same horse and win all three open drafts at the three events, and with a chance at winning $30,000, as well as the acclaim that comes with accomplishing this near impossible feat, it assured that some of the best campdrafters in the country compete each year.
Additionally, the rider/horse combination with the highest aggregate score across the first round, second round and final of these three campdrafts will receive a free service to Hazelwood Conman, valued at $4000, donated by Terry and Chris Hall, plus an embryo package, valued at $1500 (your choice of breeding) donated by Equivet, Southbrook.
The Chinchilla Campdraft committee also holds an annual Encouragement Campdraft in the first half of each year which gives young riders, new competitors and maiden horses the opportunity to gain experience in campdraft competition.
The event committee would like to thank the 2017 sponsors and cattle donors for their continued support of the Chinchilla Grandfather Clock Campdraft.
For enquiries please email chinchillacampdraft@gmail.com and visit www.chinchillacampdraft.com.au.