© Willinga Park
The NSW South Coast’s Willinga Park will host the world’s richest campdraft competition, in which the winning horse and rider will take home $100,000.
The World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft, to be held at Bawley Point’s Willinga Park on May 17 to 19, offers a total prize pool of more than $225,000 – a figure not seen before in horse sports outside of racing.
Campdrafting is a uniquely Australian sport, developed as a recreational activity for riders with an interest in cattle-horses. It is popular sport with spectators, thanks to the speed and agility of the horses and the superior horse and cattle skills demonstrated by the riders. At this event, men and women will compete alongside one another.
Each horse and rider ‘cuts’ a steer or heifer from a small mob of cattle in a yard called a ‘camp’, then once under control, the animal is guided through a course against the clock. Judges award points for the cut-out, horse-work and course for a total possible 100 points.
The World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft is the brainchild of Willinga Park owner Terry Snow, a passionate campdrafting fan, and breeder of the Australian Stock Horse that is commonly used in the sport.
“Stock Horses are bred for working with cattle and this is their sporting outlet,” Mr Snow said.
“Campdrafting is important for Australia; it’s an Australian sport for Australian horses.”
One of Australia’s most well-known and successful campdrafters, Troy Palmer, said the Willinga Park Gold Buckle Campdraft will significantly impact the sport.
“This event is a game changer for our sport,” Mr Palmer said, “one hundred thousand dollars for the winner is life-changing, and we’ve never seen anything like it in this country.”
“What Terry Snow has done at Willinga Park is second to none. You could travel all over the world and not find a better complex. As campdrafters, we’re lucky and blessed that Terry is passionate about our sport, and I have no doubt that with his support, campdrafting is going to go to the next level.”
EVENT DETAILS
World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft, May 17-19 2018
Spectator tickets available via www.willingapark.com.au
Source: Event press release
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