The Comiskey clan were out in force at the 2023 Ringers Western Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship at Willinga Park, with the legendary Pete Comiskey leading the charge.
To win the Ringers Western Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship at Willinga Park – and with it $100,000 amongst other amazing prizes – once in a lifetime is an outstanding feat. Pete Comiskey was crowned winner of the inaugural event in 2018, then took it out for a second time in 2019.
Now, just to prove it wasn’t luck, he’s won it for a third time with the stylish grey Ervine’s Just Jim at the 2023 edition. That’s three wins out of five! When you consider there are about 400 entrants and it’s over four rounds of competition, that’s quite some talented achievement.
Pete hails from Nebo in central Queensland where he and partner Bryony Puddicombe run a cattle property. Pete won at Willinga Park the first year on the mare Rodann Roanies Destiny (Paris) and then won the next year on Rodann Rip Off Chex (Brittany). Both these mares were embryo transfers from the same year out of the mare Rodann Roanies Chex. Pete knew the mare well and competed her. He has always been a strong believer that the motherline is incredibly important in the breeding of any campdrafter.
At this year’s draft, 2019 winner Brittany needed an 86.3 to qualify for the final round and just missed out with an 86. Needless to say, of the 14 Pete brought down to the NSW South Coast, he qualified three: Ervine’s Just Jim, the final winner and also the highest aggregate scorer of the four rounds; Rebel Mama, 16th in the final and fourth on aggregate; and Kneipps Ransom, 32nd in the final and 34th on aggregate. This was out of 400 competitors and four rounds of competition!
Pete and brother Steve are probably two of the most prodigious and serious competitors in the sport of campdrafting in Australia and they have both competed at all the Gold Buckle campdrafts to date. Their parents, dinky-di outback graziers with a dry and witty sense of humour, know well that the basics of life include the hardships and tough times through drought, but they make the most of every day.
CHASING WILD CATTLE
The Comiskey boys started their lives with horses and cattle from the moment they could walk; there was never a day when the horses and cattle weren’t seriously part of their life. Back in their days as children it was just part and parcel of farming life, spending hours in the saddle behind mobs of cattle, every day mustering, chasing wild cattle through the bush, and rearing horses from foals to breaking in and then competing in campdrafting, following in their father’s footsteps, Pete Snr.
Not only is there a genetic connection with good campdraft horses as Pete explains, but there is also obviously a good genetic connection with parental genes and country life! It’s then up to the training of both horse and rider. Life wasn’t handed to these guys on a silver platter. They have worked hard at their job and family and still do. Campdrafting is a release and a sport that they are passionate about.
Pete Comiskey is down to earth, modest, and an extraordinarily talented horseman. His kind and caring nature is very obvious in the faith his horses have in him. Not only does he compete and nurture the sport for his own competitions, but also helps coach and mentor junior and juvenile competitors and dedicates a lot of time judging classes at campdrafts all over Australia.
When you talk to Pete, he is so unassuming. He makes light of his own ability and diverts attention from himself to the ability of others, and to the success of others. He praises Terry Snow of Willinga Park for what he’s done in lifting the grade and the facilities, and in turn raising the amazing sport of campdrafting to the greatest heights, and is forever glowing and grateful.
BIRD’S EYE VIEW
The competition arena at Willinga Park is nothing short of exceptional, flanked by grandstands on one side, which sit above the new cattle yards with a bird’s eye view of the camp (cutout pen). Terry has brought the sport to the people and the grandstands were full for this year’s event. It was truly an amazing sight.
The surface is beautifully prepared and totally conducive to the galloping and turning of stock horses. There are yards and stabling for 400 horses and also the camping sites with water, power and wonderful bathroom facilities, laundries and even a heated swimming pool.
Facilities aside, 3000 head of Hereford cattle are cared for and prepared for the rigors of a campdraft, where 1800 are selected specifically for this one draft – all led by chief cattle manager Brett Petty. The cattle chosen for the different classes are of different types. The juniors and juveniles have smaller, younger cattle that aren’t so feisty. The open draft has cattle all of identical size, and similar condition and type. They are well handled and easy to deal with in the yards.
On talking to Pete Comiskey after his 27-hour drive home from Willinga Park to Nebo – and with it plenty of time to think about life and winning – as usual he’s modest and back to looking after the 16,600-acre property where they run 2000 cattle. Pete, Steve and their other brother, Jeffrey, along with their parents, run another family property of about 42,500 acres at Emerald. Pete has two older sons – Clayton, 27, and Justin, 22 – as well as Peter Jnr, 10, and daughter Leila, 5. Young Peter, of course, is already drafting and doing well in junior events.
Asking Pete about any rivalry in competing between Steve and himself, he doesn’t hesitate to say that there really isn’t any. He acknowledges Steve’s outstanding ability to ride and even agrees that he does more riding now, as he’s 12 years younger than Pete! Steve finished 10th in the final at Willinga Park and 13th overall on aggregate with Pimped Up Cat, while his daughter, Darcy, 14, was equal second in the juvenile draft. The Comiskeys took 28 horses to Willinga Park in total!
Ervine’s Just Jim is by the stallion Soda Justice out of the mare Ervine’s Chicko, who was by Warrenbri Omega. Jim was bought as a two-year-old by Pete’s partner, Bryony, and was broken in by Craig Irvine and trained through with Bryony – who also competed at Willinga and had four horses into the semi-final.
What is interesting to note is the communication between Bryony and Pete at the pen, when they are looking at the cattle. On talking to Pete about his last run on Just Jim, I asked, “Was it a joint decision on picking the steer and who made the final call?”
“They need to be horse-wary…”
PICKING THE CATTLE
“Hugh Miles was one horse before me and he had the pick of fresh cattle,” says Pete. “Bryony and I picked out three that we liked, and Hugh actually took the one we thought was the best; that left two for me to decide upon when I was in the pen.
“When I’m watching, it is very important to see that the cattle move away off the horse. They need to be horse-wary and sensitive and not overly confident about ignoring where the horse is. We picked the right one, and it was very much a joint decision. We trust each other looking at cattle, and of course when I had eight in the third round, we had to look at cattle for each other as we were swapping from one horse to another so often.
“It was an amazing win amongst amazing competitors, and it is not that I do any more work than any of the others. Everyone was out there trying their hardest. Everyone does a huge amount of work and travels a long distance to get to these drafts. I happened to be in the right place on the right day.”
What an amazing character; one amazing horseman and one amazing family. Pete Comiskey was simply like poetry in motion to watch him ride, choose a steer, and present it through all the gates at the campdraft. It’s as if horse, rider and steer are all on exactly the same page. It almost looks too easy to believe, but it’s years of experience and dedication, and also a truly natural gift – that’s how you can explain this man’s amazing success. Family means one hell of a lot in this sport! EQ
“I happened to be in the right
place on the right day.”
Full results from the 2023 Ringers Western Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship can be found here.
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