August 25, 2022
by Kate Dohle
Mt Stanley’s picturesque campdrafting grounds played host to a large number of ranch sorting enthusiasts last weekend for a fun two days of action.
Apart from sport, the event was also a good warm-up for the Mt Stanley Muster committee who used it as an opportunity to reinvigorate their skills after a quiet winter.
Several committee members turned up early in the week to help prepare the campdraft grounds, paint the cattle and test the catering equipment.
And as things turned out, the weather for the weekend’s event was perfect – a little cool in the mornings before warming to sunny days.
Dan Hall handled the judging on the weekend – never an easy task – while Carli Smith and Bruce Lord shared commentating duties, keeping the crowd informed as competitors put their horses through the paces.
Other volunteers handled the scoring and timekeeping, and a hard working crew in the yards made sure the cattle were sorted and swapped without fuss to keep the competition moving at a brisk pace.
Meanwhile, a third crew of volunteers handled the catering, serving up chips and barbecue treats during the day and a slap-up dinner on Saturday night.
Cattle for the weekend were supplied by Simeon and Jill Lord, and many competitors commented favourably on their high quality.
Committee members will get another chance to exercise their talents in about six weeks when the annual Mt Stanley Muster campdraft is run at the grounds.
The Muster was revived in 2021 after a 10-year absence, and drew a large crowd of spectators and competitors.
This year’s Muster will be held on October 15-16, and a call for nominations will be announced soon on the Muster’s Facebook page
- Related article: Muster Makes Welcome Return
