Actor Colin Friels will return to the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre next weekend to compete in a celebrity cutting event as part of the 2013 Tamworth Futurity , which is currently underway at the complex.
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Friels is back in the saddle in the main arena for the Friday event as part of the 40th National Cutting Horse Association’s Futurity – but it’s going to be at a far faster clip than his last major celebrity appearance there.
He was one of the stars of the AELEC opening spectacular in February, 2009, when he thrilled the full house crowd of 3600 with a rendition of Banjo Paterson’s classic, The Man From Snowy River, recited as he rode a horse around a darkened arena – and in front of scores of stockman and cowboys who were a colourful sidekick to the act.
This time Friels is back in the saddle along with five others who make up the star act.
James Blundell and Sophie Clabburn bring some real class country music skills.
They’ve recently wrapped up a 12-month tour together across Australia and now the Golden Guitar winning Blundell and Sophie Clabburn of the Sunny Cowgirls will be reunited in a different kind of arena.
But friendship will be put aside as they ride against each other and four other stars and do their best to win $3000 for their chosen charity, courtesy of the NCHA.
Blundell will be doing his bit for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Clabburn will be supporting Aussie Helpers, an organisation which helps to fight poverty in the bush.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service do such a great job for people in rural Australia and I hope to do them proud in the Celebrity Cutting Event,” Blundell said.
“I rate my chances as average. I’ve got experience with horses but the sport of cutting is a totally different story,” Blundell joked.
Clabburn was raised on a farm and continues to live and work on the land between tours.
“When I’m home on my property, I spend quite a bit of time with my horses so I’m comfortable around them but this is a whole new challenge and one that I’m really looking forward to,” Clabburn said.
“It’s great to be returning to Tamworth outside of the Country Music Festival and being part of the 40th Futurity celebrations.
“Some of my friends are involved in cutting and they’ve given me some pointers so hopefully these tips can get me over the line and pick up the winner’s cheque for Aussie Helpers,” Clabburn said.
Joining them will be Nationals MP Kevin Anderson, radio personality Emm Hall and retired rugby league player Ian Hindmarsh.
Normal cutting rules will be in place for the Celebrity Cutting Event in the AELEC from 6pm next Fridayand the stars will be awarded a score between 60 and 80 points, depending on their ability to “cut” a cow from the herd and prevent it from returning to the herd.
The Celebrity Cutting Event heads a big night with the Bull Ride and Rodeo to follow.
