6000+ to hit Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft in blockbuster weekend turnout

Hundreds have already lit up the Warwick Showgrounds arena in the first few days of competition, and there’s plenty more to come! Check out a mini event gallery and more here:

Hundreds of competitors have already taken to the arena in the 2021 Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft, and the contest is only set to heat up throughout the week.

Wednesday marks the end of the opening round of both the Gold Cup and Canning Downs Campdrafts, with the blockbuster rodeo events to kick off from Thursday night.

The promising competitor and ticket numbers despite ongoing border closures have been a welcome start for new Warwick Show and Rodeo Society president Dorothy Jephcott.

The first woman to ever head up the organisation and bring the rodeo to town in a post-pandemic world, Ms Jephcott said it was a simultaneously exciting and daunting task but well worth the effort.

Warwick Show and Rodeo Society president Dorothy Jephcott. Picture: NRM

“We’ve only had the campdrafting so far and it’s been going extremely well. It’s so good to have the Gold Cup and rodeo back, and I hope we don’t ever have to cancel again,” she said.

“It’s disappointing for New South Wales and Victoria that they can’t be here, but the Queensland riders have come to the front.”

With about 6000 spectators expected to flood the Showgrounds on both Friday and Saturday nights alone, Ms Jephcott said she hoped the event would bring as much of a boost to the town’s morale and economy as it did the sport.

“From what I’ve seen already with the cars coming in and out, at least they’re going downtown and spending money there as well,” she said.

“I’m very grateful to all the volunteers, the rest of the management team, and everyone else for putting in the long hours and getting it to this stage.

“We need the competitors, the volunteers, the bar, the singers, the cattle, sponsors, and bucking stock. It’s all as important and we’d like the town to benefit as much as everybody else.”

It’s been an epic first few days of competition at the Showgrounds, with hundreds of campdrafters bringing their best to the opening rounds of competition.

Check out our mini-gallery below, or click here for our full event preview.

Day 3 of 2021 Warwick Gold Cup, Canning Downs Campdrafts

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