June 2023 – ABCRA

ABCRA 2022 Junior NFR: Night One

Posted on June 28, 2023November 15, 2023 by admin

𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗘!

The 2022 ABCRA NFR got off to a fabulous start for 12yo Douglas Park cowboy Bob Wilson.

At his first National Finals and wearing his champion Dad’s chaps from back in the 70’s and 80’s, this talented third generation young cowboy started with 2 from two in his chosen events!

In the Whitehaven Coal sponsored 8-U11 Junior Steer ride he marked 68ps to finish ahead of a split for second between standings leader Logan George and his brother Bailey George both marking 64pts with Cody Searle on 63pts for fourth place and Colby Clark marking 60pts for fifth.

Then in the 8-U11 YETI Mini Bulls event Bob split the win marking 70pts on board ‘Devil’s Dust’ with Cody Searle on ‘Joker’ ahead of a split for 3rd between Oscar Eastley on ‘Quarterback’ and Logan George on ‘CJR’ with Bailey George picking up fifth place money with ‘Rodney in his bull rope. A huge thank you to Jodie and Craig at Calibre Country Shooting and Outdoors DL 411535392 for sponsoring both the Mini Bull and and the Junior Bull ride events at this year’s finals.

The Junior Bull ride was won by Jake Swan, the current leader in the National Standings with the highpoint ride of the day and his career best score, a massive 85pts! Second pace went to Toby Deudney marking 76pts, third to Alec Grainger on 74pts with Colby Edgar making a trip t the pay window for fourth spot with 73pts beside his name and first out Linden Raaen collect the fifth-place money.

And in the YETI 11 -U14 Mini Bulls it was Josh Snell at the front of the queue at the pay window with 73pts on ‘Jimmy Junior’ ahead of Kyle Sternbeck with 72pts on ‘War Zone’, Bailey Searle picking up some more coin for his 71pt effort on ‘General Lee’ with Harry Kelly collecting fourth place money for his work on ‘Jackhammer’ and fifth spot went to Levi Ward marking 68pts on ‘Firestorm’

In the Whitehaven Coal 11-U14 Junior Steer Ride Dustin Gannon was first to the pay window with a 73pt marking ahead of a three-way split for second place between Cody Sternbeck, Josh Snell and Jesse Pendergast. Darcy Wilton marked 68pts for fifth place in the event.

In the Whitehaven Coal sponsored 14-U18 Junior Steer ride Jamie Underwood got it done with 69pts just ahead of Cooper Mitchell on 68pts, Colby Edgar picking up a bit more money with his third placing on 67pts and then Jack Whitely-Eldridge and Jake Swan split fourth and fifth each with 66pts beside their names.

𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗘𝗕𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗦!

Over to the timed event end of the arena and there were some fabulous runs in the Circle L Western Products sponsored Junior Barrel Race events.

Fastest time of the day went to Phoebe Usher and ‘Morns Posh Roc’ this pair stopping the clock in 17.98 secs to win the 11-U14 event ahead of Kundabung cowboy Levi Ward and ‘Thunder’ in a time of 18.589 secs with third place going to Gungal cowgirl Makayla Mobberley on board ‘One More Style’ in 18.603 secs. Sophie Edmonds collected fourth place money with her 18.762 sec run on ‘Cruzin Ta Fame’’ and completing the podium it was Amber Haling with ‘Frankie’ under her saddle in a time of 18.763 secs.

In the under 11yo Barrel Race no-one was quicker than Dakayla Crawley and ‘Double Up’ with this pair stopping the clock in 18.25 secs to win the opening round ahead of Lacey Hutton and ‘’Peppy’s Page’ in a time of 18.933 secs with third spot going to Franki Ward and ‘Dusty’ in a time of 19.172 secs. Paisley Swadling and ‘Attitude’ picked up fourth place money with a 19.073 sec run and Maddison Edwards and ‘Iggy’ the final pair at the pay window after their 20.072sec run.

Kundabung cowgirl Bobbi Ward and ‘Thunder’ closed the gap a little on National Standings leader, Maitland cowboy Thomas Hutton and ‘Cold Play’ when they were quickest around the drums in the 14-U18 Juvenile Barrel Race. Thomas was second ahead of Skyla Wicks and ‘Ziggy’ who stopped the clock in 18.242 secs then in fourth place we had Heatherjane Scott and ‘Hot Shot Doc’ with 18.273 secs beside their name and the final pairing to visit the pay window from the opening round were Bendemeer cowgirl Chloe Burch and ‘Intracat Chilli’ with their 18.533 sec run for fifth place.

And in the Impulse Print sponsored Junior Breakaway Roping, proving that the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree, it was a very speedy 2.97 sec time from Woolomin cowgirl Rily Leys that saw her and ‘Radar’ get the first round chocolates ahead of the number one cowboy in the All Round rankings Kayne Lincoln and ‘Buddy’ who stopped the clock in 3.54 secs to collect second place money. Bobbi Ward returned to the pay window after she and ‘Duke’ recorded a 3.73 sec run for third place with Kiara Edwards and ‘Trigger’ picking up a fourth-place cheque after travelling all the way over the Nullarbor from York in WA to compete at the finals.

What a great morning!

Same time, same place tomorrow morning for more exciting action.

See you here!

Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

2023 Classic Ladies Foundation Young Ambassador Quest

Posted on June 22, 2023October 26, 2023 by admin

With the concept of raising funds & awareness to benefit rural communities, the Classic Ladies Foundation was born.

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Australia’s best rodeo competitors crowned in Tamworth, NSW

Posted on June 22, 2023November 14, 2023 by admin

Australia’s best rodeo competitors have been crowned with the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association’s (ABCRA) National Finals Rodeo wrapping up at the Australian Equine Livestock and Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, NSW over the weekend.

More than 210 competitors competed across the three-days in junior and senior events, with Wade McCarthy from Muckenburra, WA named the All Round Cowboy National Title winner and the Bull Ride National Title winner, while Tamworth’s Anna Crisp took out the All Round Cowgirl National Title, as well as the Breakaway Roping National Title with ‘Chex R All I Know’, which was also named Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year.

Isaac LeClair from Kiara, WA was named the Graham Keir Memorial All Round Rookie Cowboy, and Jolene Kallus from Eumungerie, NSW was crowned the Graham Keir Memorial All Round Rookie Cowgirl. Bendemeer’s Braith Nock with crowned Rookie Bull Ride Champion and Tammy Cooper from Glen Oak, NSW was named Rookie Barrel Race Champion with ‘Rio’.

ABCRA Executive Officer, Craig Young said there was some serious competition across the three-days, with the nation’s top competitors on show.

“We had a fantastic National Finals event, with numerous National Title winners and Aggregate Champions crowned across all rodeo disciplines,” he said.

“Tamworth’s Travis Heeb took out both the National Title and Aggregate Champion in the Bareback, and Jayden Blacker was crowned Saddle Bronc National Title winner.

“Katina Matthews also impressed, taking out the Barrel Race National Title on ‘Filthy Rich N Famous’, which was also named Barrel Horse of the Year.”

The event also raised money for charity, with several thousand raised for the NSW Cancer Council at the traditional blanket drop that was held during the Tough Enough to Wear Pink night on Friday.

“We always loved to support the NSW Cancer Council and since 2011 more than $75,000 has been raised through dedicated rodeo events,” said Mr Young.

“An almost sell-out crowd on Saturday night, also helped support Lifeline during the Bruce Green Memorial night and raise funds for a new crisis support centre in the region.”

A full list of National Title winners, Aggregate Champions and Rookie Champions can be found here.

ABCRA National Finals Campdraft moves to North Star, NSW in 2023

Posted on June 22, 2023October 26, 2023 by client

Planning is well underway for one of the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association’s (ABCRA) hallmark events, with the campdraft section of the 2023 National Finals set to get underway in North Star in Northern NSW next month.

The campdraft finals is the first event of the 2023 National Finals Series, with the country’s best campdraft competitors set to go head-to-head at the North Star Sports Club.

ABCRA Executive Officer, Craig Young says this year will see the event move from Tamworth, where it is usually held, due to the continued dry conditions.

“The lack of rain and dry weather has had a significant impact on the ABCRA’s ability to access suitable cattle and stock needed to run the National Finals – Campdraft event and the price of freighting cattle to Tamworth has proved too costly,” he said.

“Luckily we’ve been able to secure a line of cattle near the Sport Club in North Star and the ABCRA is excited to be heading north for this great event.”

The top 15 competitors from each campdraft discipline have been invited to take part in the National Finals.

“These riders have accumulated points by competing at ABCRA affiliated events throughout the year, so they’ll be throwing everything on the line to take out top honours,” said Mr Young.

Heading into the National Finals – Campdraft Troy Palmer leads the Most Successful Rider standings on 140.2 points, while Leah Whitehead leads the Ladies Rider division on 32.50 points. Gary Faulks is on top of the Master Rider standings on 82.50 points and Annabel Dalzell leads the Encouragement Rider division on 26 points. In the Juvenile standings Lachlan Sansom leads on 77.08 points, while Riley Edwards leads the Juniors on 112.58 points.

The 2023 National Finals – Campdraft will once again include the Australian Campdraft Championships, with both events running in North Star.

“We’re really excited to once again include the Australian Campdraft Championships in our event programming,” said Mr Young.

The campdraft section of the 2023 National Finals and Australian Campdraft Championships get underway on 15 November at the North Star Sports Club and will conclude on Sunday, 19 November.

“We’d also like to thank our major 2023 National Finals sponsors, Whitehaven Coal, YETI and Marsh Carney, as well as Impulse Print, Pryde’s Easifeed, and Affinity Equine Insurance.”

Emma Thompson – Triple Crown

Posted on June 22, 2023March 21, 2024 by Scott

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗟𝗘-𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗦𝗢𝗡!
Coonabarabran cowgirl Emma Thompson is just the second cowgirl in the history of the ABCRA to wear the #1 back number at the National Finals Rodeo. She joins legendary cowgirl Nichole Fitzpatrick who has achieved that feat a remarkable four times so far in her long and illustrious rodeo career.

Emma came into the 2023 ABCRA NFR holding the lead for two titles, the Pryde’s EasiFeed Ladies Barrel Race in which she had amassed a season earnings record of $25,941.34 and an unassailable lead in the most coveted one of all, that of Australian All Round Champion Cowgirl where no other cowgirl could accumulate enough points, even with a perfect finals campaign to head her off.

But there was a third title that she could win too if she had a solid finals, that of Circle L Australia Steer Undecorating Champion. In this event she and ‘Eddie’ were $1512.90 dollars behind 3-time Australian champion and the defending ABCRA NFR aggregate champion Sallie Nichols. Sallie won all three go-rounds at the last NFR and was keen to do the same AND hopefully take the Australian title as well. She was in a good position but things would have to go right for her in Tamworth.

Both these cowgirls are super competitive and you have to keep in mind you are dealing with a horse with a brain, a head of stock with a mind of its own and a cowgirl with hopes and dreams and it’s the hardest thing to get the stars to align!

But to win Sallie would have to do it on a borrowed horse because her ‘Red’ sustained an injury two weeks before finals and wouldn’t be able to run. Great mate Jaemi lee Krause sent her ‘Bucky’ down from QLD for Sallie to run on.

This was such a great event to watch unfold.

First go-round both cowgirls missed. Second go-round Emma won the round and Sallie missed out on a place. For the third go-round the maths was simple. Sallie had to win and Emma had to miss out on any placing and if Emma did miss Sallie had to win in a time faster time than Emma had run for her win the night before.

No pressure!

The Willow Tree cowgirl, hazed by her new husband Heath didn’t hold back. She and ‘Bucky’ hit the turbo boost and stopped the clock in a new arena record time of 1.53 secs! Unfortunately for Sallie, Emma in the run immediately before her had put down a 2.29 sec run which ended up being enough to see them secure the fifth place in the round and thereby giving them the all-important aggregate money and with it the Australian Steer Undecorating title and the ABCRA NFR Aggregate Steer Undecorating title!

Three Australian titles and an Aggregate title in one NFR!

That’s an impressive haul for a cowgirl who is only 6 years into her rodeo career and at only her second NFR.
Emma won her first Rookie title in 2018 winning the Rookie Barrel Race on ‘Eddie’ and backed it up in 2022 winning the Rookie Steer Undecorator title off this superstar hen 14yo gelding, what a difference 12 months makes!

In winning a triple crown (All Round Cowgirl plus two other event titles) Emma joins an elite group of champions from our sport.
The most titles ever won by a cowgirl in a single year was by Mary Morgan back in 1984 when she won All Round, Steer Undecorating, Barrel Race and Goat Tying. That year, her husband Glenn Morgan won the All Round Cowboy, Bareback and Saddle Bronc Australian titles!

Other triple crown winners include:
Anne Stanborough in 1987, All Round, Barrel Race and Steer Undecorator, Marie Edwards (now Marie Crisp), in 1994, All Round, Barrel Race, Breakaway Roper, Nichole Fitzpatrick in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 with All Round, Steer Undecorator, Breakaway Roper titles and again in 2016 but this time All Round, Barrel Race and Steer Undecorator titles.
And before this year, Anna Crisp was the last one to join her Mum, Marie Edwards (now Crisp) on the illustrious list of triple crown winners when she won the All Round, Steer Undecorator and Breakaway Roper titles.

Emma and ‘Eddie’, congratulations, what an extra-ordinary year you both have had.
We can’t wait to see you go-round again and return to Tamworth in 2025 to defend your Triple Crown titles.
Photos and words Stephen Mowbray

Countdown is on to ABCRA National Finals Rodeo

Posted on June 22, 2023October 26, 2023 by admin

Australia’s best rodeo competitors will head to the nation’s country music capital this week for the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association’s (ABCRA) National Finals Rodeo.

The hallmark event will begin on Thursday, 19 January at the Australian Equine Livestock and Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, NSW, kicking off three full days of rodeo action.

ABCRA Executive Officer, Craig Young, says the event will showcase the very best of Australian rodeo.

“The top 15 competitors from each rodeo discipline have been invited to compete at the National Finals Rodeo this week and we have some talented men’s, women’s and junior riders ready and raring to go,” said Mr Young.

“These riders have accumulated points by competing at ABCRA affiliated events throughout the year, so they’ll be throwing everything on the line to take out top honours.”

Among the riders competing will be Katina Matthews, who’s leading the Ladies Barrel Race, Travis Heeb in the Open Bareback, Wade McCarthy who’s leading Open Bull Ride, and Anna Crisp, in the Ladies Breakaway Roping.

The country’s best junior and juvenile riders will also take to the arena, with the junior section of the National Finals kicking off at 8am each day in the main arena.

“Our main event on Thursday will also be a dedicated family night with kids under 12 free, so I encourage everyone to get their tickets now and secure their seats,” said Mr Young.

“Country music artist and former Golden Guitar Award finalist Liam Brew will also perform for crowds on Saturday night, ahead of the final round of the National Finals Rodeo.”

The ABCRA’s National Finals Rodeo will also have a charitable side with the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo on Friday night to raise money for the NSW Cancer Council.

More than $75,000 has been raised for the NSW Cancer Council since 2011 through dedicated rodeo events.

Shaen Fraser from the Cancer Council said: “Pink Ribbon events raise both awareness around women’s cancers and funding for local initiatives and support services like Inala House and Cancer Council’s Accommodation support program, Transport to Treatment and Home Help programs. These are vital services for local women and their families as they undergo cancer treatment and as part of their recovery.

“Donating just $10 can help pay for an Information Pack to help a woman cope after surgery, and a donation of $50 Can help fund a call to a cancer nurse on 13 11 20, that informs and supports a woman through a breast cancer diagnosis.”

Saturday’s main event will be the Bruce Green Memorial, in aide of Lifeline and local mental health support services.

“Representative from these organisations will be out and about during our main events, so I encourage everyone attending to dig deep and support them, as they provide critical services to our region,” said Mr Young.

The junior sections of National Finals Rodeo will kick off at 8am each day and are free to enter. Tickets for the main events can be purchased via entertainmentvenues.com.au

Month: June 2023