He scored a total of 177 points, putting him well ahead of his nearest rival Will McCrohon who finished with 173 points. 

Having won at Jugiong on the same horse the year before last and earlier this year in Gundagai, David and Dex now qualify up from the Novice to the Opens. 

He praised the event in Jugiong saying the show is renowned for having great cattle. 

“It’s everything” he said of the difference good quality cattle make when out in the ring. 

“The cattle donors go to a lot of trouble to prepare the cattle for us and we can tell,” he said. 

This year’s cattle donors were Tony and Carmel Lenehan of Hopewood Pastoral Co, Romani Pastoral Co, the  Willsallen Family of Widgeongully Pastoral Co and Peter and Marianne Wallis.

Peter and Marianne also donated their truck to cart the cattle.

David is particularly impressed with the way Dex is riding. 

It will now be a break from the circuit for David and wife Kandee, who also rides, until July when they compete at the Paradise Lagoons Campdraft in Rockhampton. 

Another district local in Simon Dodwell also did well for himself placing first and second in the Opens on two different horses. He finished the weekend with 177 points on Excel and 175 points on Cut Em Loose – a successful weekend all round for the talented rider. 

With more than $16,500 in prizemoney and trophies handed out across the weekend, cowboys and cowgirls came from up and down the east coast to take part and test their skills. 

The campdraft is an important weekend on the Jugiong calendar and as well as bringing visitors to town, funds raised by the volunteer committee at the helm of the event are directed back to the village. 

Local organisations in the Jugiong Rural Fire Service and Jugiong Public School P and C also benefit by doing the catering across the busy weekend. 

As well as volunteers, it is also with thanks to the sponsors the Jugiong Campdraft is able to run.

This year’s sponsors were Thompsons Rural Supplies, Tegra Quarry, AgStock Gundagai/Tumut, Fitzgerald Family, Deeps Menswear Cootamundra, Hy Pro Australia, Prydes EasieFeeds and Frank Coonan.

Open Draft I: Scott Gardiner on Swanky (182 points)

Open Draft II: Simon Dodwell on Excel (177 points) 

Ladies Draft: Wendy Atkinson on Magnum (173 points)

Thompson’s Rural Maiden Draft I: Scott Bandy on Corvette (167 points)

Thompson’s Rural Maiden Draft II: Matt French on Secret (260 points) 

Phillip Fitzgerald Memorial Junior Draft: Ty Withers on Circles (59 and a half points)

Bill Fitzgerald Memorial Juvenile Draft: Travis Bandy on Corvette (84 points) 

(More photos page 9)