This will be the first campdraft since 2005 as the event was cancelled in 2006 because the drought resulted in a lack of available cattle and the equine influenza saw the cancellation of the event in 2007.

Drought also saw the cancellation of the event in 2002, but other than that it has been running steadily since the 1950s.

Campdrafting has its origins in the early days of the Australian stockman based around droving because the drovers needed to select individual cattle from a mob to drive them to a separate holding area, the stockman would “cut out” the beast from the mob.

This was achieved through the skills of the horse and rider to block the attempts of the beast to follow his natural instincts in returning to the mob.

This was usually done when large mobs of cattle were mustered together and held by a team of horsemen on an open plain, while a nominated rider did the “cutting out”.

Over time stockmen developed competitions based around this activity, which has evolved into the uniquely Australian sport as we know it today.

The sport today is conducted in a set of yards attached to an arena and require the competitor to “cut out” a beast from the yard, or camp, follow it out through the open gate into the arena where he must guide the beast around a course of right and left hand turns before guiding it through a gate, all in 40 seconds

Points are scored by horse and rider for cut out, horse work and course completion, from a possible total of 100 points.

A good campdrafter is not just a fine horseman, but has the skill to select a suitable beast from the mob that will run well.

The prestige associated with a win in a campdraft of several hundred competitors is invaluable to the owner of the horse, as the winning horse is ranked amongst the finest stock horses in the

country.

Spectators are welcome to attend all weekend.

There is a canteen and bar running as well as a calcutta on the open draft final on the Saturday night.

Entry is free all weekend.

Bring the family and enjoy a day out in one of the most picturesque grounds in the Upper Hunter Valley.

The Aberdeen campdraft committee would like to thank all sponsors, cattle donors and all involved for their ongoing support.