PG . 21
It was a nervous wait until the last rider in the draw - legendary Ben Hall on CHISUMS CASH Q-76877 , to determine which team would win the Aggregate and the major cash prize for their chosen charity . Ben and his roan RS Chisum mare put one around for 82 points , enough to bring home the win for the Australian Campdraft Association ( ACA ) team whose charity of choice is the Common Ground Foundation . Congratulations to all member organisations and competitors , this event provided another 3 rounds of excellent Campdraft viewing and for a great cause .
The rain did not deter a crowd gathering on the hill for the first of numerous Campdraft event finals on Wednesday afternoon , where the Coverdrive Gelding Incentive kicked things off at 6pm . This feature event exhibited the top 15 geldings from the Classic Campdraft , who competed for a total prizepool of over $ 8,000 .
It was a tightly contested final and in the end , came down to a run-off between Mitchell Hoy on Mick & Lenore Cole ’ s horse and Will Durkin .
However it was the Guyra competitor Mitchel Hoy who claimed victory , with another 88 point run guaranteeing the $ 5,000 winners cheque thanks to Coverdrive Promotions who operate the popular bar services at AELEC .
The Campdraft arena feats continued in the hotly contested 4CYTE Charlie Maher Young Guns final running as the last event of Day 6 . Always a popular occasion , the final did not disappoint spectators with 33 young talents demonstrating some of the best Campdrafting of the week yet .
There were a phenomenal three scores each of 90 and 91 through the field , but it was a spectacular 92 point run from Fergus Friend , a competitor from Mt Garnett in Queensland , which clinched the title - a fine show of horsemanship . Riding their family owned horse , Fergus added to a 90 from Round 1 to claim victory with an Aggregate of 182 .
Fergus also impressed on his second finalist ride – another Nutrien Classic graduate in horse , placing = 5th ! This mare was purchased at the 2020 Nutrien Classic from Craig Ervine & Sue Kirkby , the Tarraway Partnership , for $ 17,000 . Congratulations – an amazing achievement and fantastic to see the Friend family achieving such great results with their Classic purchases .
Another afternoon of Campdraft finals excitement kicked off on Thursday with the Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Dash for Cash , featuring the top lady riders from this weeks events competing for an impressive prizepool . The winner was a popular one , in the Walcha horsewoman Laura McNaughton who rode her husband horse for 89 points – a beautiful run .
The Martins Stock Haulage Open Campdraft Final was also exciting viewing , with the top five combinations coming into the final with only 3 points between them . It came down to a runoff but reigning champion Will Durkin on Evan & Kim Acton ’ s talented mare continued an absolutely trail blaze of big scores throughout each stage of this event to claim the title . Another incredible 91-point run secured the win , with a total of 364 . Across three rounds , their scores were 92-91-91 ! Spectacular Campdrafting and a great result for long-term Classic supporters Evan & Kim , from Millungera Station in north-west Queensland .
The last and most anticipated event of Thursday night was the Nutrien Classic Campdraft Final – the main incentive event and one that all buyers come to win . The crowd was electric up on the hill , as spectators watched some of the most exciting young Australian performance horses at work .
It was fantastic viewing throughout the field , but it was one of the industry ’ s best in Mark Buttsworth aboard HARD CURRENCY Q-99043 ( Hard Hat Henry x Yulgilbar Bails Cachet ) owned by Dave Kennedy of Copabella Quarter Horses , who claimed victory with a spectacular 91-point run .
This win is a special one for Dave , who enjoyed watching his gelding compete in both the Classic and Challenge finals – under TWO jockeys , Mark Buttsworth and his protégé Paxton Pulford ! HARD CURRENCY Q-99043 was a sentimental ( and surprise ) purchase at last year ’ s sale – Dave claims he did not expect to buy a horse last year .
The gelding ’ s sire in HARD HAT HENRY Q-67747 was owned by Dave and sadly lost prematurely in 2016 , and he couldn ’ t resist taking home one of his progeny to bring back for the 2024 incentive events . A worthwhile decision .
HARD CURRENCY Q-99043 was in fact sold by Dave in this year ’ s Classic Sale , fetching $ 40,000 in the sale ring on Thursday morning – one of the highest priced geldings of the day . He heads to the McClymonts of Hughenden , Queensland , to continue his Campdraft career - which is quickly proving illustrious .
With sales negotiations still underway , the 2024 Nutrien Classic Sale has generated over $ 12 million for the Australian performance horse industry . From 554 horses offered for sale , 87.73 % sold for an overall average of $ 25,067 .
There was good demand for proven female lines again this year , with a range of quality mares and fillies bringing an average of $ 32,563 . Lot 496 was the star of the show as top price mare and lot of the sale , selling for $ 180,000 to Ben & Rae Hill of Thallon , Queensland .
AQHA MARCH / APRIL 2024