2012 Landmark Classic Campdrafting and Sale Takes Over AELEC

From 31 January to 5 February AELEC in Tamworth is being taken over by the great Aussie sport of Campdrafting - four different drafts followed by the 2012 Landmark Classic Sale - and no-one is letting a little rain get in the way of the drafting action!

This year sees the Landmark Classic Sale celebrating five successful years. With over 500 horses catalogued, more than 2000 cattle used for the event, around 1000 campdraft runs and total cash and prizes on offer exceeding $150,000, 2012 looks like being a great year for this popular event. 

It is anticipated that over 5000 people will see the event, with Tamworth City estimated to gain over $2 million dollars worth of economic benefit.

There are conditions for participating in the drafting events - horses competing in the Landmark Classic Draft must have been purchased at a previous Landmark Classic Sale and those competing in the Landmark Masters must not be less than six years of age and purchased at the 2011 Landmark Classic Sale, while Stallions in the QEC Stallion Shootout must have progeny in the 2012 sale.

Now for the action...

Tuesday and Wednesday saw rounds one and two of the Herefords Australia Open and the Landmark Classic Campdrafts being contested in wet conditions, but there were still good scores on the board.  While round one of the QEC Stallion Shootout was held on Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday features Pre Work for sale lots 1 - 360, followed by round one of the Landmark Masters Campdraft, round two of the QEC Stallion Shootout and finals for Landmark Masters, Herefords Australia Open and Landmark Classic Drafts, which should provide plenty of excitement for competitors and spectators alike.

Friday will kick off with Pre Work for Lots 361 - 537, followed by the start of the 2012 Landmark Classic Sale at 12.30pm, which will feature Lots 1 - 145. Next on the programme are the Elite Equine Super Stars Sale, Stallion Service Charity Auction, Campdraft Presentation and round three of the QEC Stallion Shootout draft.

The Landmark Classic Sale will continue on Saturday with Lots 146 - 379 and on Sunday with Lots 380 - 537.

With so many top campdrafting horses - featuring high quality breeding, talented young prospects and proven performers - on offer at the Landmark Classic Sale, there is sure to be plenty of high quality prospects to suit any drafting enthusiasts.

How it all began

The Landmark Classic concept began in early 2008, whilst the equine industry was at a standstill due to the effects of Equine Influenza.

Together a small group of Landmark staff and clients came up with the concept of developing an incentive based sale, whereby horses aged five years and under could compete in an annual draft, which still remains the largest individual campdraft winner's purse in the country today.

The first sale was held at the Tamworth Showground on 24 May 2008, where 129 horses were catalogued for sale. The sale proved to be a success with a gross of $1.12 million averaging $10,710.

Since then the Classic has continued to grow with the 2011 event cataloguing a massive 565 horses with a sale gross of $4.4 million at an average of $10,473.

In total after four years the Landmark Classic has sold an impressive 1206 horses at auction to gross $11,994,900 at an average of $9,946, with a number of sires already recognised for their impact on the event, these include Acres Destiny, Bank Fulo Cdees, Adios Reflect, Warrenbri Omega and Chevin Ivory.

A key benefit of the Classic sale has been the stability the sale has added to the performance horse industry, with breeders of registered Australian Stock Horses and Australian Quarter Horses now able to both budget and plan for the business of breeding and selling horses, with the benefit of a strong stable market that has become engrained on the performance horse calendar each year.

The Landmark equine sale calendar has steadily grown since 2008 to include an annual yearling and broodmare sale and incentive challenge at Toowoomba, along with the Paradise Lagoons performance horse sale held during the annual Paradise Lagoons Campdraft, with a $25,000 incentive draft on offer for horses purchased from that sale each year.

The Landmark team is also proud to be the selling agent for the Australian Stock Horse Societies Fountain Of Youth national yearling and two year old led sale, which is held as part of their annual World Championship Show and Campdraft Maiden Series. This annual event is set to get underway at the AELEC facility in Tamworth in March 2012.

Quick Link

• Visit the Landmark Classic website for competition draws, the sale catalogue, live stream footage and all other information regarding the sale