Sixteen-year-old Billy is currently standing second in the title race, Ann, who’s 15, is standing 17^th, and 14-year-old Tom is standing 10^th.  

Their mother, Gemma, says she’s very proud that as well as the Ward family who go to school at Telegraph Point, our area has another family of children competing at the national finals.

The event at the Australian Equine and Livestock Centre attracts big crowds.

“Of the thousands of kids all over the country who compete each year, we are fortunate enough to have three children competing,” she said.

“It is only the top 25 competitors for campdraft who are invited to compete for the title each year. Good luck to the Ward kids too; we will be there to cheer them on.”

The Porter family have been competing for four years. Billy, Ann and Tom all go to boarding school in Tamworth and they come home every weekend and do campdrafting with their father.

“They really love the sport of campdrafting which is growing hugely in popularity.  It’s very social and they get to meet a lot of people.  I think it’s great that they have got so far,” said their mother.

The family go all over the country with their horses, from Queensland to the Central Coast and way out west in New South Wales.

Campdrafting involves a mounted rider riding into a camp (a corral or yard) which has six to eight head of cattle in it.

The rider picks out one steer or heifer from the cattle in the camp, and brings that beast to the front of the camp and block, and turns that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have it under control.

The rider then calls for the gates to be opened.  The rider then proceeds to draft the beast around a figure of eight course in a larger arena.  

Once that is completed, the rider then guides the steer through the "gate" which is two pegs placed apart.

Once gated, the campdraft is complete and the rider can be awarded up to a total of 100 points.  Points are awarded for horsemanship and control of the beast within set time limits, usually 45 seconds.

The Porter children run two horses each.  Competitors need to be able to read cattle and to know their own horse quite well.

Gemma says the kids are appreciative and grateful to all in the campdraft community who have tutored and mentored them to get them to where they are today.

You can find out more on www.abcra.com.au