THE Whitsunday campdraft raced into the Proserpine Showgrounds last Friday for an action-packed weekend of horse sports fun.
The sport of campdraft has its origins in the early days of the Australian stockman and is believed to have started in rural Queensland in the early part of the twentieth century.
The horse and rider score points for cut-out, horse work and course completion from a possible 100 points.
The official weekend kicked off Friday night with a Jackpot Barrel race.
Drafters braced Saturday’s heavy winds and the day started with the Shannon Brothers Memorial Open Draft followed by four other drafts.
Saturday was highlighted by the performance of Proserpine local Warrick Watts who ended up placing first in the Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment Junior Draft.
In a matter of minutes, Warrick was able to obtain great technique to block the attempt of the beast to follow his natural instincts in returning to his mob.
Saturday evening was the more laid-back and less competitive part of the weekend.
Children were invited to participate in a rooster and greasy pig catch that was followed by the immensely popular Marco and Mirella DeBoni Fancy Dress Bareback Cut-Out.
Horses were dressed from princesses to Bob Marley.
Competitors went all out with costumes from Hugh Jackman, witches, Elvis and Minnie and Mickey Mouse.
Proserpine’s Warren Watts had the arena in fits of laughter when he emerged dressed as a cow with his own blow-up horse.
The entertainment continued with music by Ken Todd and a Calcutta auction of the open campdraft finalists.
On Sunday the campdraft action continued with the Steel Supplies Novice draft and the Mick Dahl Memorial juvenile campdraft.
The afternoon consisted of more drafts and finals.
The weekend finished with the Airlie Beach Dental encouragement camp draft.
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