Inverell Showground will come alive this weekend starting on Friday.
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Some of the country’s best junior campdraft and rodeo competitors from as far afield as Bathurst in the south of NSW, to Thallon in North West QLD, will battle it out over the weekend.
Over 300 competitors and their families will visit Inverell over the coming days while attending the event, with over 800 campdraft nominations for the weekend starting on Friday afternoon and wrapping up Sunday afternoon.
Some of the leading ABCRA Juvenile and Junior competitors nationally have nominated.
The Porter brothers from Wauchope, Samson brothers Gloucester, Kate Schiffman Gunnedah and Laura Hardie from Warren will all be charging hard chasing much needed results as the year draws to a close for the National Finals and Titles.
Local boy Darcy Oakes at just 6 years old will make his debut in the steer riding and has been practising over the past 12 months in preparation for the weekend.
In the rodeo arena just over 100 rodeo entries have nominated for Saturday evening starting at 4pm and then another 90 entries nominated backing up again for round two kicking off at 8-30am Sunday morning.
Competitors will tough it out in bull riding, steer riding, barrel racing and breakaway roping. Leading competitors such as the Southern brothers from QLD will compete in Warwick on Saturday at lunchtime and head straight to Inverell for the evening competition.
Multiple national title holders Anna Crisp of Tamworth, Nash brothers Coolah and Braith Nock Bendemeer will be challenged all the way by local competitors such as Brock Adams and the McKinnon boys.
A few hidden talents will give it a shake up in the barrel racing as well.
The showground will come alive from daylight till late each day with rodeo entertainment, music, full canteen and bar facilities.
The event will be a major fundraiser for the Inverell Pony Club and to assist with regular maintenance and upgrades to the grounds facilities.
Organisers say without countless donations of services, sponsors and long hours by volunteer workers along with local cattle producers who lend over 1000 head of very valuable cattle events such as the Inverell Junior campdraft, sporting and rodeo championships would not be possible.
The event is not just about competition but also many friendships are formed and the event allows many rural based families an opportunity to socialise and visit towns such as Inverell.
Organisers say watching the smiles on the many competitors faces and seeing many new competitors make a start in the sport of rodeo and campdrafting makes the countless hours of preparation all worth it.