THE team at Willinga Park are excited to announce they will be bringing top-quality campdraft action to the venue from May 13-15.
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This year, they have assembled the richest prize pool in any campdrafting event, have attracted a new major sponsor in Volkswagen and added to the program with two new events and a country music showcase.
"Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we had to postpone our 2020 event, and we are genuinely excited to be back this year, bigger and better than ever," Willinga Park owner Terry Snow said.
"We've got Volkswagen onboard and a fantastic program including the new ladies dash for cash and State of Origin events, as well as a country music concert after the Gold Buckle final.
"This will also be the inaugural showcase of our new Volkswagen Grandstand which sits right above the camp for premier viewing."
The total prize money in 2021 is $300,000 with the winner taking home the coveted Gold Buckle.
For the past two years, Peter Comiskey, hailing from the far north Queensland town of Nebo, has won the Gold Buckle after driving for four days just to reach the Bawley Point-based competition.
Tickets sales for the event, which will be televised on the Seven Network through 7Mate for the second straight year (from 12pm Saturday for the Gold Buckle final), have surpassed expectations with only a limited number of tickets remaining for Saturday's competition.
However, Thursday and Friday are also filled with campdrafting action.
Thursday will see round one of the Gold Buckle, the opening of the breed for the future parade and the cut-out qualifier.
Friday sees round two of the Gold Buckle followed by the new ladies dash for cash and the cut-out final.
Campdrafting is a truly unique Australian sport that began in the bush in the 1920s and early 1930s when drovers, moving cattle along the roads, wanted to prove their horse skills.
Stockmen would show off their skills and ability to cut out (separate a beast from the herd) and chase cattle on horseback.
Now, 100 years later, it has more than 16,000 registered members.
More than 400 horses are expected to compete at Willinga Park during all three days of intense competition, creating plenty of fun for families and people of all ages.
"The Willinga Park team are excited to see Australia's campdrafting fans," Snow said.
"We look forward to an amazing experience as the eyes of the campdrafting world are set on the nation's top campdrafting competition, the World Championship Gold Buckle Campdraft 2021."