GUNNEDAH’S Tom Wilson announced himself to the campdrafting community on his home track over the weekend.
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Yeah, his father, Michael Wilson – he's very high up in campdrafting – is world-class. He’s bred to be good, and got good horses too.
- Mick McLoughlin on up and coming rider Tom Wilson
The Gunnedah Show Society and Campdraft Club held the Gunnedah Campdraft on Saturday and Sunday as Tom, with horse Elvis, flew the flag for the town as he took out the Maiden Draft.
Tom, who also competed in the 13-U17 years Juvenile Draft, gave all the visitors a taste of the potential he possesses – something Gunnedah campdrafters were already well aware of.
“Yeah, his father, Michael Wilson – he's very high up in campdrafting – is world-class,” Gunnedah Show Society and Campdraft Club secretary Mick McLoughlin said.
“He’s bred to be good, and got good horses too.”
It all came close to not eventuating, though – the event that is.
After the 2016 event was forced to be postponed due to rain, the organisers thought history was about to repeat itself when the clouds opened up on Friday.
A total of 14.6mm fell on Friday – meaning the main arena could not be accessed until Friday afternoon – but luckily for the campdraft club, that was it and the event went ahead.
“That rain on Friday morning didn’t help us much but we got around it,” McLoughlin said.
“We were wondering [if we’d have to postpone the event].
“It’s not only the grounds but also access to getting cattle out of the yards [is a problem].
“When it cleared about lunch time on Friday, it lifted our hopes for sure.”
Sue Duggan was the best of the females to take out the Ladies Draft while Wayne Smith came out on top in the Col Smith Memorial Novice Draft and Troy Palmer won the Allan Dufty Memorial Open Draft.
About 900 runs were held over the weekend with spectators treated to some top-class campdrafting, according to McLoughlin.
“The Michael Wilsons, the Wayne Smiths, the Troy Palmers and all those high class people are good to watch,” McLoughlin said.
”The novice, junior and the juvenile had high class drafting as well.
”Tom Wilson, who won the maiden, is also a juvenile and the Clark boys – Troy’s kids – they were in the Novice Draft and are all high quality young blokes coming through with good horses.”
RESULTS
Maiden Draft: Tom Wilson (Gunnedah) riding Elvis
Ladies Draft: Sue Duggan (Coolah) riding Chief
Allan Dufty Memorial Open Draft: Troy Palmer (Coolah) riding Whostopcat
Col Smith Memorial Novice Draft: Wayne Smith (Scone) riding Nicollett
Junior Draft: Danny Mortimer riding Little Abbey
Juvenile Draft: Cade Rossiter riding Diamond
Mel Bates Memorial Jackpot Open for Open: Troy Palmer (Coolah) on Impressive Destiny