By Sally Nicol
An isolated red ridge in southern Queensland was converted into goose-neck city as Australia's best horsemen and women converged to fight it out for $30,000 in prize money on offer in the prestigious ACA National Campdraft Finals last week.
Thousands of competitors and spectators from as far north as Katherine in the Northern Territory and as far south as the bottom end of New South Wales came to the tiny drought stricken community of Weengallon, 150 km west of Goondiwindi, for the four day event from April 19 to 22.
Australians' Campdraft Association President, Noel Chiconi, says it will go down in the history books as one of the greatest National Finals ever.
He says the ACA National Finals were expanded from a three-day program to four for the first time, due to record nominations. "Twelve hundred nominations were lodged in the ACA National Finals that's 300 more than last year."
"The cattle ran well, the ground was perfectly prepared and we saw some thrilling rides. 70 percent of competitors were posting scores. That's very high and shows just how ideal the conditions were."
Mr Chiconi praised the Weengallon Campdraft Committee for the hard work they put into sourcing the 1,600 head of cattle and carting water for the stock and to keep the dust down.
"It was touch and go as to whether we'd be able to hold the National Finals. Drought has taken its toll on the campdrafting scene. Already 30 of the ACA's 260 campdrafts this year have been cancelled due to cattle and water supplies drying up."
Throughout the last 12 months competitors have been accumulating points at ACA campdrafts to establish their position in the national rankings. The ACA National Finals were their last chance to close the gap with double points and secure the coveted ruby studded buckles that proclaim their title win.
Last week the Champions for 2006/07 were announced at the ACA Awards Dinner.
Renowned horseman Peter Comiskey from Nebo in Central Queensland maintained his stranglehold on the number one position in Australian campdrafting by winning his 13th ACA Champion Open Rider Title.
Chinchilla competitor Jackie Knudsen won the Women's Final at Weengallon to cement her position as the ACA's Champion Lady Rider of the year.
Another woman to receive recognition for her contribution to the sport was Australia's number one campdraft commentator, Lorna Fanning from Warwick, whose name has been added to the ACA Roll of Honour.
The crowd roared to life when local Weengallon lad, Andrew Turvey, was awarded the ACA Associate Rider buckle. Fifteen year-old Roma rider Alexia Fitzgerald won her first National Juvenile Title while Laurie Curtain from the Northern Territory took out the ACA Maiden Rider Title. Meanwhile, well known Goondiwindi drover Terry Hall was the ACA's Champion Master Rider of the year.
Weengallon Campdraft Committee President Ken Rigney congratulated the winners on their dynamic display of horsemanship at the ACA National Finals. "It was a tough competition and no one was giving an inch."
"The grandstands were packed and everyone was smiling because they were watching the best of the best competiting right here in our part of the world."
Mr Rigney says the ACA National Finals were the biggest event Weengallon is ever likely to see. "We're well and truly on the map now."
He thanked the generous sponsors who made the event possible and his hard working Weengallon Campdraft Committee team. "Everyone had a job to do and everyone just got in and did it to ensure that the four days went off without a hitch and all visitors enjoyed their time with us," he said.
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