Campdrafting as a sport evolved naturally from young station hands competing around cattle yards and drovers’ camps in NSW and Queensland in the 1880s.
It’s generally been a sport dominated by men, but at Lockington in Northern Victoria earlier this month, the women took their fair share of the prizes.
Held over two days, the event featured seven classes ranging from encouragement to open.
Amy Belcec, an 18-year-old university student, had the win of her life when she took the open class blue ribbon from a strong field riding Dee So Smart.
Amy has been campdrafting since she was eight years old.
“My whole family do it and there’s nothing more I love than heading away for the weekend to compete with family and friends,” she said.
“(Winning at) Lockington was big for me as I’d never won such a big event and now my horse is open.
“I am so grateful to have a cool little mare that I can compete on, I’m so lucky to have two amazing horses I ride thanks to mum and dad.”
Fiona Gordon won two sections of the maiden draft, with Cass and Hearty. Amy’s sister, Lexie Belcec, was second to Hearty on Say No Moore.
Chloe Bedggood riding Miss Jewel Jazz won the junior class and was equal second riding Spin N With Pepto and Ayla Sim and Lady Stylish.
Anja Dodd, 16, riding Mobile Kosiosko won the juvenile draft and shared equal second with Walter Jackson.
Jason Parker riding Wood Be Stylish won the novice section and Zac Jackson riding Destined for Moore won the Sunday open class.
See the full gallery at The Regional
All images by Toni McClusky of Equine Promotions
View and purchase Toni McClusky images from this event
Results
Maiden A judged by Zac Jackson
1st: Fiona Gordon riding Cass
2nd Ewen McLean riding Red Hector
Equal 3rd: Mathew Browne riding Montarna lets Deal and Gina Lincoln riding Boon Town
5th: Henry Jackson riding Rio’s Request
6th: Gerard Wilson riding Gettin Lucky
Maiden B judged by Luke Jackson
1st: Fiona Gordon riding Hearty
2nd: Lexie Belcec riding Say No Moore
3rd: Steve Brown riding Snake Oil
4th: Lauren Jackson riding Millungeras Synthia
5th: Ewen McLean riding Westons Debit
6th: Walter Jackson riding Tommy Turbo
Junior judged by Lachie Sim
1st: Chloe Bedggood riding Miss Jewel Jazz
Equal 2nd: Chloe Bedggood riding Spin N With Pepto and Ayla Sim and Lady Stylish
Equal 4th-8th: Nate Browne, Darcy Cummins, Paige Kennedy, Paige Kennedy and Ayla Sim.
Juvenile judged by Lachie Sim
1st: Anja Dodd riding Mobile Kosiosko
Equal 2nd: Anja Dodd and Walter Jackson
4th: Emily Taylor
5th: Charlotte Taylor
6th: Ben Taylor
Open judged by Lauren Jackson
1st: Amy Belcec riding Dee So Smart
2nd: Andrew Clarke riding Lenny
3rd: Paige Nancarrow riding Oaks Connection
4th: Paige Nancarrow riding Constantly Stylish
5th: Peter Griffiths
6th: Callum Moore
Sunday
Encouragement judged by Lachie Sim
1st: Hope Lindhe & Express Jess
2nd: Jemma Dowling and Cowboy
3rd: Jamilla Campbell riding Tommy Tucker
4th Tammy Alldridge riding Hannaford Crown Prince
Equal 5th: John Key & Marran Thomson
Novice judged by Adam Parker
1st : Jason Parker riding Wood Be Stylish
2nd: Fiona Gordon riding Cass
3rd: Bronwyn Upjohn riding Telly
Equal 4th: Lauren Jackson, Jason Parker and Jason Pickering.
Open 4 Open judged by Trish Baxter
1st : Zac Jackson riding Destined for Moore
equal 2nd: Mat Holz riding Nonda Last Frontier and Paige Nancarrow riding One Stylish Oak.
4th: Scott Chalker and Ellie-May
5th: Jason Parker and Hashtag ‘Jewelin Jay’
6th: Claire Dickenson & Robdog
This article appeared on The Regional on 29 March 2023.
Stories on The Regional’s website are free to read and always will be.
If you enjoyed this article you can show your support by joining our mailing list
(either by filling out the form on our Home page or sending us an email or message).
We’d also get very excited if you put a “like” on our Facebook page.
