All set for campdrafting

Big turnout expected at this year's Warwick Rodeo campdrafting events.

NUMBERS for this year’s campdrafting events at the Warwick Rodeo will be at least on par with 2015 if not slightly up, says Campdraft chairman Geoff Grant.
With just a fortnight away to the biggest event on the Warwick calendar, campdrafters will compete at the Condamine Bell this weekend and the Chinchilla Grandfather Clock Campdraft the following weekend, before heading to Warwick to complete their shot at the ‘triple crown’.
Mr Grant said numbers for the Canning Downs/Black Toyota Canning Downs Campdraft and the Pryde’s Easifeed Warwick Gold Cup would be in the high 800s.
“We are looking at just over 300 in the Ladies Silver Cup and around 100 for the Frasers Transport Stallion Draft,” he said.
“Normally for the Champion of Champions, we cap the numbers at 50, but we’ll have 74 this year.”
New features at the Warwick Showgrounds this year include new shade over the cut-out area and a new low-stress cattle handling facility to improve safety for handlers, along with an extended bar area and additional grandstand roofing.
Mr Grant said the showgrounds were looking “a treat” after recent rain.
Campdrafting will get underway at 5.30am on Monday 24 October and rodeo action starts on the Thursday night 27 October and continues right across the weekend.
Along with some of the nation’s premier campdrafting events, the 2016 Warwick Rodeo promises to be a huge weekend once again for locals and visitors alike.
Even though the street parade and mardi gras will be absent from this year’s program of events away from the showgrounds, the popular Warwick Potters Country Craft Market will still be held on Saturday 29 October, from 9am to 2pm in Leslie Park.
Campdrafting will be on all week from Monday 24 October and rodeo action will be firing up in the showgrounds arena at night on Thursday 27 October and Friday 28 October, with a full day and night of both campdrafting and rodeo events on Saturday 29 October, plus live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. The arena action continues on Sunday 30 October.
The Heritage Western Presentation Evening for the Warwick Rodeo Queen quest will be held at the showgrounds on Saturday 15 October.
See more in next week’s Southern Free Times and on our website leading up to rodeo weekend, the last weekend in October.
In the meantime for more information, visit warwickshowandrodeo.com.au