Justcuttin - Condamine Show

DON'T ASK ME HOW, BUT THEY DID IT!

The South Queensland Cutting Horse Association was faced with the dilemma on the week end of holding two jackpot shows in two days with 150 entries per day. The first solution was to hold the first $10,000 Novice event on the Friday afternoon after their Futurity pre works and then to go for it over the next two days and hopefully get through the numbers.

Saturday was a 7am start and the last horse of the day finished under lights early that evening. Then on Sunday a 6am start and some late scratchings ensured a daylight finish. Club President Peter Gesler may have woken up on Monday sporting a few more gray hairs, but I am sure he was satisfied with his club achieving something on such a large scale.

The Show kicked off at noon Friday with a Futurity Horse Pre Works of some 30 odd horses followed by 21 horses in the $10,000 Novice. The show judge, NCHA president Jason Leitch, gave the points to the hard working Jonathon Dudley riding the young mare Spirited Acres.

Twelve events had to be run and won the following day with Peter Gesler helping out Jason with the judging. Peter judged the beginner events and then co judged with Jason on the other events. Fiona Tranter riding Justa Little Spinifex had the highest score of the day with a 143.5 to win the $10,000 Non Pro.

Because of the late finish the club AGM was postponed until the next show, Burrandowan, but Hi Point buckles were presented after dinner at the local sports club. As is the norm with cutting enthusiasts, they jumped at the opportunity of helping a couple of young locals raise some money so they could play rep soccer for their state. A raffle was held and then the winners generously donated their prizes back to auctioned. Jason Leitch jumped at the opportunity to be auctioneer and a bottle of Bacardi fetched $62 and a bottle of Brandy $60.

The cutting started under lights on Sunday with the rookies the first of thirteen events for the day. It was cold, windy and dusty and nothing really changed for the whole day. The Novice Non Pro, $10,000 Novice, Open Non Pro and the Open drew some tough herds with John Breckleman winning the Novice Non Pro scoring the highest points of the show with a 73 riding One Duck

An Acre, in what was possibly the toughest herd of the show. Robert Mackay won the $10,000 Novice on Futurity Champion Yulgilbar Roc N Roy with a 72.5 and commented on how fast the cattle were out there comparing them to the cattle of the US NCHA Futurity.

Other performances to note was the ever consistent team of Phil Dawson and Reyne Storm who won the open event both days. And young Matt Sly who in his first show won show 1 Senior Youth riding Docs Vision.

The show managed to finish at a respectable time giving those who wished, the opportunity to drive home that afternoon. All in all a good show with some good cutting, the usual banter and a great experience for those who came along.