Day 6 and the conclusion of preworks at the 2024 Nutrien Classic Campdraft & Sale in Tamworth, which has now passed the halfway point!
Bid cards are already proving popular, with over 500 pre-registered online by Thursday afternoon – a record number at this stage of the event. The free livestream coverage of the Preworks was watched by a huge number of viewers from across Australia and beyond, including international audiences in New Zealand, Canada and the US.
Preworks were completed today, with the remaining 337 lots showcased to a growing number of prospective buyers which is set to peak in coming days. Despite wet and cold conditions this afternoon, the Buyers Inspection was well attended by prospective buyers viewing lots they had marked in their catalogues.
The rain did not deter a crowd gathering on the hill for the first of numerous Campdraft event finals this week, 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 SALTWATER GROOVA (Saltwater Sonic x Toomba Kelly) and Will Durkin on Bezuma Pastoral’s STEWARTS FLIGHT CONTROL (Hazelwood Flight Command x Stewarts Felina).
However it was the Guyra competitor Mitchell 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. Mitch also takes home a service fee from Moore Park Livestock for stallion “One Fine Vintage” and a rug and fly veil from Easy-On Rugs.
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 the family owned YARRAWA CLASSIC (Kneipps Conray x Yarrawa Cadillac), Fergus added to a 90 from Round 1 to claim victory with an Aggregate of 182.
Fergus and YARRAWA CLASSIC are continuing an extremely successful partnership and the 8-year-old Novice mare is actually a Nutrien Classic Sale graduate – having been purchased by Codie and Natalie Law of Yarrawa Stock Horses at the 2019 sale for $15,000.
Congratulations to the Mt Garnet cowboy who takes home $2,000 cash, a service fee to “Shines Like Metallic” thanks to BELJAY Performance Horses, a Wazz-A-Cow mechanical cow and a trophy rug from Easy-On-Rugs.
Fergus also impressed on his second finalist ride – another Nutrien Classic graduate in ERVINES VENUS (Kirkbys Stud Contender x Ervines Eclipse), 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.
Day 7 tomorrow will see the commencement of the 2024 Nutrien Classic Sale, with Lots 1-160 going under the hammer from 8am. Bidders are reminded that pre-registration for bid cards is available online and remote buyers can also participate on the Auctions Plus website.
Another huge night of Campdraft finals will kick off at the day’s sale finish with the Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Dash for Cash, Martins Stock Haulage Open Campdraft Final and much anticipated Nutrien Classic Campdraft Final set to excite a jam-packed crowd – both under lights at the AELEC and on the Nutrien Equine live webcast.
Entry to all Nutrien Classic events is FREE and full results, sale catalogue, bidding information and live webcast of the 2024 Nutrien Classic can be found at www.nutrienequine.com.au .
