FOR some competitors, the sport of campdraft becomes a science – which beast to pick or how to read that beast or the horse you’re riding.
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Not so for local man Rob Cavanagh.
When he mounts up in this weekend’s two-day campdraft at Bendemeer Rodeo, he’ll be using it as “stress relief”.
Cavanagh owns and successfully runs the local livestock carrying business, Stockmaster Transport in Tamworth.
It can boast a fleet of 30 massive trucks between its base here and his original trucking business at Inverell.
But once astride a horse, Cavanagh – along with his daughters Libby and Kimberley – completely winds down for some “stress relief and good exercise”.
“It’s fun for me,” he said.
“And Tamworth’s a great area for the sport. You can compete in several without travelling too far.”
On the weekend, Rob and Kimberley (Libby is currently enjoying a 12-month Rotary Exchange trip in Thailand, which won’t be completed until January 2014) will compete in the maiden, novice and juvenile (Kimberley only) drafts on their horses Spice, Anniken and Buddy at
Bendemeer.
“Buddy’s Kimberley’s favourite,” Rob said.
“She rode him in the juvenile draft at the recent ABCRA (Australian Campdraft & Rodeo Association) National Finals,” Rob said.
The duo will be a minute part of the strong contingent of riders from the region to compete over the two days, with Stockmaster – the rodeo’s major sponsor for many years –providing transport for the 1200 head of local cattle expected to be used.
“This is only our second year of competing at the rodeo but the event is a credit to the whole community which gets right behind it,” Rob said.
“It’s a great tribute to them, to be able to run such a successful show.”
Action in the campdraft arena gets underway from 7am each day while one session of rodeo from 10am Saturday will continue throughout the day with the main event to explode under lights from 6pm.
