Dust is set to fly in the Queensland outback on September 13 and 14 as Australia’s best stockmen and women will battle it out in a range of fast-paced, hard-riding bush events. 

R.M. Williams chief executive Hamish Turner said this year’s muster was set to be bigger and better than ever.

“The Longreach Muster will be a fantastic weekend of celebrating with the Longreach community,” he said. 

“This year, we are pleased to announce a new camp draft event – Longreach Pastoral College Old Collegians versus The Best of the Cattle Companies. 

‘‘We believe this will highlight the incredible talent that the LPC has assisted in developing and educating, now seen through the success of its past students.”

Mr Turner said R.M. Williams was proud to support such a unique event that brought together some of the sport’s most successful competitors and top horses. 

“The hardship of the drought is creating enormous ongoing challenges for the Longreach community, and indeed, many parts of the country,” he said. 

“The Longreach Muster is an opportunity for those doing it tough to come together for a weekend of camaraderie, support and to just have a break from it all for a couple of days. 

‘‘All of us at R.M. Williams are looking forward to another great muster.”

The muster starts at 8.30am on September 13 with the R.M. Williams Stockman’s Challenge. 

The event rounds up the best of the bush with the cattle companies’ top stockmen and women battling it out over a range of bush challenges.

Speed, strength and horsemanship are combined in this exciting display to determine the best stockmen and women in the competition.

From 2pm on September 13, the Cattle Company Buck Jump sees the cattle companies compete in this exciting and challenging event conducted along the traditional lines of early rodeo years in Australia, utilising the traditional stock saddle.

Then on September 14 at 10am, the muster saddles up with the R.M. Williams Golden Spurs Campdraft. 

The campdraft is a highly competitive event that puts some of the country’s best riders against each other in Australia’s traditional horse sport. 

It’s the ultimate display of speed, timing and horsemanship.

Following the campdraft is the new event – the LPC Old Collegians versus The Best of the Cattle Companies, to be held at 1.30pm. 

It is designed to bring together some of the best and biggest names from the college and give them the chance to battle it out against a select team from the best of the cattle companies; many of whom are alumni of the college themselves.

 From 2.30pm on September 14 the Calgary Stampede Bosses Draft will bring some of the excitement of Calgary to the Australian outback. 

Launched at the 2013 muster and proving one of the most popular events on the schedule, the Calgary Stampede Bosses Draft will see the three cattle company finalists compete with the ‘‘Boss’’ back in the saddle.

The cattle company owner or chief executive will compete with his two leading stockmen as a team of three, putting their bush skills and teamwork to the test.

The final event of the muster is the State of Origin Invitational Rodeo at 3pm. The Queensland-New South Wales rivalry moves from the football field to the arena with plenty of thrills, spills and finely tuned rodeo skills to keep the whole family entertained. 

It’s an action-packed event, which includes the disciplines of steer wrestling, bareback, saddle bronc and barrel racing with some of the country’s top rodeo competitors. 

It’s fast and furious and hugely entertaining.

A sausage sizzle run by students from the Longreach Pastoral College will be available over both days. 

There will also be a public bar run by rugby league club the Thompson Tigers, with all proceeds going to the Longreach Pastoral College.  

The legendary R.M. Williams Longhorn Express will be on site throughout the weekend, selling a large range of R.M.Williams footwear, apparel and accessories. Entry is $5 a person – children under 12 free. Gates open at 8.30am.