Farmer News
1 May, 2026
The thrill of the chase
CAMPDRAFTING is one sport that not only offers the thrill of the competition but also the chance to involve the entire family.
If you have a love of horses, enjoy being around cattle, don’t mind getting covered in dirt and like a challenge, this is one sport that has you covered.
Like so many others, 29 year-old Paige Nancarrow of Broadwater (near Macarthur) has become addicted to campdrafting and the thrill of competition.
“Campdrafting really gets in your blood and it’s very addictive,” she said.
“I wasn’t exactly born in a saddle; my Nan had horses but I wasn’t allowed to get one until I could look after it. I got a pony when I was about 12 and then a horse a while later.”
Paige’s younger sister was the first to take up campdrafting (her teacher owned a camp draft on grounds in WA) as a youngster but a knee reconstruction left Paige on the sidelines – but only for a short time.
“I tried it when I was about 14 and then I was hooked,” she said.
“It’s a sport the whole family can get into and it’s great for spectators too. When people ask what keeps me coming back I think it’s the adrenalin rush, the fun of it, the challenge of the chase, networking and making a whole new group of friends.”
And while some horse lovers lean towards show jumping and eventing, others find campdrafting more suited to their personality.
“It certainly isn’t cheap running horses and a truck or float but you can get out there in a pair of boots, some jeans or whatever else you feel comfy in.
“It all fits in well for me.” Paige has well and truly established herself among the SCA’s best riders and as a rider of the best horses.
The organisation presents points-based awards at the end of each season, recognising the best riders and horses in the competition from the whole association.
In 2018-2019 and from 2021-2024, Paige claimed the overall Champion Rider title again some of the country’s best campdrafting talent – both men and women.
In 2020-2021 she was named Best Lady Rider, 2018-2019 and 2022-2024 claimed Champion All Round Horse and over 12 other seasons, has taken out each of the other four champion horse titles, at least once.
This season, she and her team have again left their mark on every draft they’ve attended, picking up a swag of wins and placings across the state.
At the Hamilton draft in February, she went three entries for three successful runs in the Open, with Lena’s Little Tessa taking the win and One Stylish Oak and Constantly Stylish placing third and fourth, respectively, in the same event.
They pulled off the same feat just a month later at Skipton, with Oak taking the win, Constantly Stylish equal second-placed and Lena’s Little Tassa in sixth.
Their results see Paige at the top of the leader board for the Champion Rider title, in a tight competition with David Murphy and well clear of the rest of the field, heading into the final months of the season; she’s also in the top six in the Lady Rider competition.
And her team continues to make its mark – Constantly Stylish, One Stylish Oak and Lena’s Little Tassa battling it out against each other in the top six of the Open Horse competition and the All Round Horse title.
In one of her most recent campdrafts, held at Wannon River over the weekend of April 11 and 12, Paige again featured on the winners’ list - adding to her long list of success in the 2025/26 season.
At Wannon River she took out the Open title on ‘Constantly Stylish’ on day one and then following up with a win in the Restricted Open on the Sunday on ‘One Stylish Oak.’
Paige has dominated the season, taking out titles at several campdrafts.
Back in October last year, at Charlton, she finished second in the Open on ‘Constantly Stylish’, and was placed second in novice and sixth in Maiden A on ‘KJA Perfect Moon.’
At Keith, South Australia, last November she finished first in Restricted Open on ‘Constantly Stylish’ and first in the ladies section on ‘Oaks Confection.’
Last February she travelled to Hamilton where she and ‘Constantly Stylish’ placed second in the Open and in the restricted Open ran three horses – Lena’s Little Tassa finished first, ‘Constantly Stylish’ fourth, and ‘One Stylish Oak’ third.
Next on the calendar was Skipton.
Paige took the same three horses from Hamilton to Skipton on March 21 and took out the Open draft with ‘One Stylish Oak’, placed equal second on ‘Constantly Stylish’ and sixth on ‘Lena’s Little Tassa.’
“I’ve had a pretty good season and it’s been a lot of fun,” she said.
“At the moment I’ve got five horses, four in Open and one is a novice, but there’s some really good competition out there which makes every campdraft a new challenge.”
While the competition is certainly hot in the adult sections, for the kids it’s all about learning and having fun.
“There’s kids as young as eight taking part in campdrafts. The minis was introduced this year and that’s a whole lot of fun for the kids – an adult dresses in a cow suit and runs around the yard and the kids need to round up the ‘cow’ and do abit of a cut out and that’s it.”
With the SCA (Southern Campdrafting Association) beginning to wind down for the season, Paige will head to Carrathool for the April 24-26 event and that will be the last for her this season.
“I’ve heard a couple of others have been cancelled, partly due to the dry conditions and party due to the fuel situation at the moment; it’s costly to run a truck and 100 litres of diesel doesn’t get you too far,” she said.
“Carrathool will pull me up this season so I’m hoping to finish the season on a high.”