Laura Campdrafting competition

The Laura Campdraft and Rodeo, an iconic event that is run in conjunction with the Laura Annual Races. As with the Rodeo, the Campdraft attracts competitors from all across North Queensland.

Black Star’s Mark Hogan yarns with young Rosie, a competitor from Coen who is at the Laura event.

For those unfamiliar with Campdrafting, the basic idea is when one mounted rider moves into a small yard, called a camp, and selects one beast from a small mob of cattle. They then proceed to move the beast towards the camp opening – which is blocked by either other riders on horses or two gates with people holding them shut. 

The mounted rider blocks and turns their beast several times across the face of the camp (the single beast tries his hardest to get past the rider and back into the mob). When the rider feels they has shown the Judge enough of their horse’s ability to hold the beast clear of the mob, they call for the gates to be opened so the beast can be taken out into a much larger area to complete a course. The course consists of two pegs (usually small trees) set apart, one on the left and one on the right, directly out from the front of the camp.