Final showdown for campdrafting locked in

The calibre of competition at the weekend’s final draft of the season shows that horses and riders are well prepared for the approaching finals action.

Campdrafting Tasmania has scheduled its upcoming State Finals at the purpose-built arena, Hawkridge Forest, at Powranna, for straight after the Easter break on April 11 and 12 with judges Alan Mitchell and Richard Cooke from the Gippsland Campdraft Association officiating.

The final event for the 2025-26 season saw Amy Grubb from Breadalbane continue her dominance, winning judge Jinx Hogarth’s Cattle Working Challenge with Everhope Jersey Girl, scoring 85, and the Novice (dual judged by Ken Rundell and Charlton Rundle) on Halsteds Jerry Lee with 88.5, sounding warning bells for upcoming finals contestants.

Westbury young rider Gemma King took out judge Tricia Ryan’s Ladies’ Draft on Will Shoobridge’s Diego, scoring 81, with Thomas Matthews from Cressy and Banana Station Donna winning the Men’s Draft also scoring 81 under Scottsdale judge Tracie Doohan. 

The progress made by Junior and Juvenile riders over the season was evident with two great runs from Indigo Monks on her new pony Dingobrook Just Lethal, scoring 90 to take out the win, while consistent Mole Creek young rider Ada Badstuebner won the Juvenile on Dalray Django with 89.

The Restricted Open is a showcase for the best horses and riders, and it was great to see Westbury’s Georgia Burford-Rowe making a comeback from injury to win with her Australian Stock Horse gelding Roseridge Respeck on 83. 

The Open Draft was won by Lemont rider Tom Steele and the talented Wren on 88, with runner up Thomas Matthews and Poppy setting up a dynamic finals contest with a close second on 85.