THE North West is preparing for this year's Saxby Round-Up, which will start on Thursday, June 30 with more than 1000 competitors expected for the four-day event.
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Saxby is located about 200-kilometres north of Julia Creek at Martin’s Waterhole on ‘Taldora Station’ and events range from campdrafting, rodeo, gymkhana, pack and endurance.
Saxby Round-Up secretary, Georgia Fleming, said the committee changed the day for rodeo.
“In previous years we had the rodeo events on a Sunday, now we are hoping to generate more interest by hosting it on the Friday and Saturday night,” Fleming said.
“We hope this generates more buzz and continue to keep the memory of Saxby Round-Up alive.
“Saxby is an iconic event in the bush. It is a long way from anywhere and you won’t find to many bush events like this that are still running and still draw a big crowd.”
Fleming said the event had been running for over 50 years.
“The atmosphere holds this event, it could be described as a step back in time,” she said.
“The event is the same as it was over 50 years ago and still holds its name.
“Each year we have people coming back for this older style event because it is like nothing else.”
Nominations have closed for all events and have received over 1000 first round campdraft nominations, with competitors travelling from all over Australia to compete.
“The concentration of competitors are around North West Queensland: Julia Creek, Cloncurry, Mount Isa, Normanton, Richmond, Doomadgee and Croyden. However we do attract interstate competitors just because they heard about the event or they were a ringer here 20 years ago,” Fleming said.
“Tens of thousands of dollars in prize money are up for grabs over the action packed weekend.”
Thursday will see a full day of the best riders compete in the maiden draft, continuing on Friday.
Friday will feature the open draft, mini workout, junior draft, maiden draft final, followed by the rodeo that will include a junior bull ride, open bull ride and novice bronc ride.
Saturday will see the Ken Daley Memorial open draft, maiden for maiden, barrel race, rope and tie, team roping, bulldogging, open bull ride and bronc ride, novice bull ride and bronc ride and bullock ride.
Sunday will feature Joseph Acton Memorial novice draft, juvenile draft, cut out competition with the open draft and novice draft finals.
Spectators are encouraged to take camping gear, cash and fuel up in Julia Creek before the event. For more information contact Georgia Fleming on 0447 224 717.
Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
