General News
9 July, 2025
Campdraft a coup for Mount Isa's economy
The fast-growing sport is providing a much-needed boost to local businesses.
The exploding rise of campdraft numbers in the North West is great for the region’s economy, but tough on volunteers, says Sam Iraci.
The president of the Mount Isa Campdraft Association said he was rapt with this year’s event, but said that numbers had to be capped due to a lack of available days to get through each event.
“Now we start the campdraft on Thursday before midday, which is something we’ve never done,” he told North West Weekly.
“It used to be only three days.
“And on Wednesday, we got the kids in to school all day and then a part of Thursday ... so yeah, she’s a pretty big week for us.
“Campdraft is very much a participation sport rather than a spectator sport and I’m not sure where the next steps are but it’s harder to make our draft any bigger because it’s already too many days.
“People are having to take off work to participate, but then also as a committee and members, we’ve all got real jobs outside of this event.”
Mr Iraci said the campdraft was an unsung hero on the Mount Isa events calendar, saying that it did just as much for local commerce as the famed Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
“The rodeo is definitely a bigger tourism drawcard for the town, but I believe that the campdraft probably matches or actually brings a lot more for businesses in town,” he said.
“We have competitors that start camping here from Monday before our draft starts and they stay here all the way until Sunday.
“I’m still at the grounds now (Monday afternoon) cleaning up and there’s still a couple of trucks here.
“I spoke to a fair few businesses and people around town, and even the competitors here – a lot of them from the stations – and they bring in three or four Toyotas to get fixed while they’re here for the week.
“They’re bringing in generators to get repaired, water pumps, the women are coming in that haven’t seen a hairdresser in three months and they’re booking appointments and all that sort of stuff.
“Whereas rodeo, they come in, compete and sort of go because they’re hitting the next one.
“A lot of these guys, there’s even a lot of southerners, they’re in town for a week.
“They’re going to the bottle shops, they’re going out for lunches, they’re having dinners through the week before everything starts.
“They’re restocking horse feed, all that sort of stuff.
“They make a big time out of it for the week.”
Mr Iraci said the annual Mount Isa Campdraft could not go ahead without the support of the local business community.
“We’re pretty lucky with what we get from our sponsors,” the president said.
“Even people giving us cattle. They’re worth a fortune and they give us cattle to chase around.
“They don’t get anything out of it. The generosity of people is unbelievable for that sort of stuff.
“Between the two cattle owners that we had and the Actons giving us a road train of hay, plus people transporting that in for us, we’re very lucky with what we’ve got.”
MOUNT ISA CAMPDRAFT RESULTS
Maiden 4 Maiden Draft
1st Brendan McGinnis | Expected To Be Stylish (166)
2nd Kylie Prychidczuk | Oscar (162)
3rd Reece Reiser | Tombstone (157)
Open Draft
1st Ben Hall | Halls Pledge (180)
=2nd Ken Ford | Yarrawa Convertible (179)
=2nd Madison Hall | Somerset Bushranger (179)
Futurity Draft
1st Ben Hall | Halls Cinderella Rio (170)
2nd Ben Hall | Halls Classified (169)
=3rd Huon Smith | Boonara Crossword (87)
=3rd Will Durkin | Blondie (87)
Juvenile Draft
1st Bronte Pratt | Silky (83)
2nd Hayley Winks | El Pascol Layla (75)
=3rd Marney Rogan | Convince (20)
=3rd Bronte Pratt | CD & Tell (20)
Novice B Draft
1st Kate Southern | Erin Mister Metallic (176)
=2nd Paul Woods | Woodstock Metallic Baby (174)
=2nd Ben Hall | Halls Classic (174)
Novice A Draft
1st Tom Matthewson | Victor Charlie Charlie (176)
2nd Michael Hayes | Romantic Remedy (175)
3rd Ben Tapp | Supernova (172)
Maiden A Draft
1st Jake Curr | Hellofa Con (171)
2nd Jake Curr | April Moon (170)
3rd Shae Reynolds | Wisom (169)
Restricted Open Draft
1st Marcus Curr | Romeo’s Destiny (91)
2nd Jaye Hall | Halls Poetic (90)
3rd Madison Hall | Somerset Bushranger (89)
Encouragement Draft
1st Brendan McGinnis | Expected To Be Stylish (109)
2nd Holly Turnbull | Jimmy (104)
3rd Ruth Reynolds | Stretch (84)
Junior Draft
1st Gorgia Hansen | Homer (79)
2nd Bo Brock | CD & Tell (56)
3rd Georgia-Louise Snelling | Tinder (51)
Maiden B Draft
1st Marcus Curr | Sandytate Chismic (176)
2nd Shane Laffey | Harvey (172)
3rd Ella Hill | Playnoak (164)
Mini Draft
1st Billy Anderson | Alfie (40)
2nd Paisley Raie Ford | Reldass Trinity (37)
3rd Sophie Jepson | Donna (36)
Stallion Shootout
Winner: Will Durkin | TRR Dual Smart Olena (177)