Top Performance at Nutrien Equine Classic

The outstanding results recorded at the 2021 Nutrien Equine Classic have exceeded previous sales, broken industry records and cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading campdraft competition and performance horse sale.

The outstanding results recorded at the 2021 Nutrien Equine Classic have exceeded previous sales, broken industry records and cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading campdraft competition and performance horse sale.

The 10-day event in Tamworth, New South Wales, generated more than $10.71 million in horse sales, with a clearance rate of 94.66%.

Nutrien Ag Solutions Equine team is thrilled with the event’s success.

“Now in its 14th year, our goal has always been to hold an event that bolsters the performance horse industry through high quality competition, sales and social interaction,” says Nutrien Ag Solutions Tamworth Branch Manager Mark Witherdin.

In the twelve months leading up to this year’s event; we’ve experienced drought, floods, fires and a global health pandemic which threatened to cancel the event; but we were able to adjust plans to ensure The Nutrien Classic could go ahead as a COVID-safe event.

More than 350,000 people from Australia and across the world tuned in to the live streamed event, with the Nutrien Classic recording an average selling price of $21,596.

Topping this year’s sale was the The Trustee for Jones Family’s purchase of Cheshire Cat for $170,000 on account of Emily Poole. Other notable sales include the $125,000 purchase of Marilyn McCulloch’s Hoaths Peter by RP & HP Partnership, which is the highest priced open aged stallion to ever sell at The Classic; Brad & Briony Comiskey’s purchase of Springsteen on account of Isaac Westerhuis for $95,000; and Who’s A Little Fancy, on account of Kandee & David Thorn, who sold for $90,000 to Cougar Cattle Company.

Complementing the sale was the outstanding horsemanship and quality breeding on display during the campdraft competition. The winners included:

  • 2021 Nutrien Equine Classic Campdraft Winner: Ben Hall from Muttaburra QLD, on RATHCOOL DR WHO, owned by Ben & Jaye Hall, 269 points.
  • Prydes EasiFeed Australian Performance Horse Challenge Winner: Adam Wrobel from Denman NSW, on BRANCHVALE NIPS N TUCKSOwned by David and Leanne Badior, 321 points.
  • 2021 Martins Stock Haulage Open Campdraft Winner: Peter Boulton from Heyfield VIC, on REFLEX, owned by Peter & Michelle Boulton, 273 points.
  • 2021 Navaho Trailers Masters Campdraft Winner: Peter Boulton from Heyfield VIC, on GERROA SWEET ROMANCE, owned by Peter & Michelle Boulton, 177 points.
  • 2021 Dalgety Stallion Shootout Overall Winner: Pete Comiskey from Nebo QLD, on ARCHDALE CONVOY, owned by Stevenson & Frame, 255 points.
  • 2021 Charlie Maher Memorial Young Guns Campdraft Final Winner: Matt Moffat from Kabra QLD, on CAT SWIFT, owned by Zane Habermann, 180 points.
  • 2021 AELEC Bar Dash For Cash Gelding Draft Winner: Ben Hall from Muttaburra, on HALLS SANDIEGO, owned by Luke Quaid, 91 points.
  • 2021 Jimmy Matthews Memorial Ladies Dash For Cash Final Campdraft, sponsored by CM Pastoral, Winner: Sophie Maynes from Tamworth, on GEM, 87 points.
  • NCCA Prydes EasiFeed Champion Rider Title Campdraft Overall Individual/Team Winner: Pete Comiskey from Nebo QLD, on HARRY, 261 points. Team ACA (Australian Campdraft Association) won the overall teams with 1458.5 points (6 riders over 3 rounds per team).

Photo by Jo Thieme Photography

The Classic is much more for our business than just the Campdraft and Horse Sale.

The Nutrien Classic Store Sale was held on Wednesday the 3rd of February and grossed $7,697,606.80 for 4,590 head sold at an average of $1,699.04. The sale was strongly supported by the network with Walcha, Scone, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Armidale, Barraba (Howard Carter), Glen Innes all supporting the sale, alongside Livestock Divisional Manager John Settree.

A strong result was also recorded for Nutrien Ag Solutions on the insurance front, with Stuart Balcombe and Gwen McCluand writing a total sum insured of $3,123,550 for 117 horses; generating $143,915 in gross written premium.

The Classic Ladies’ Foundation also raised more than $110,000 during the event, with all proceeds proudly donated to the Black Dog Institute and Melanoma Institute of Australia.

“This year’s event was one for the history books, but it would not have been possible without the enormous support of AELEC, all our sponsors, and those who competed, purchased, sold and watched The Nutrien Classic,” says Nutrien Ag Solutions Tamworth Branch Manager Mark Witherdin.

Mark says there was a big team who helped make the Nutrien Classic a huge success.

“The Classic is an event that is built by the network and showcases our people and ability that the Nutrien brand represents,” Mark says.

“I want to acknowledge Toowoomba, Scone, Gunnedah, Rockhampton, Roma, Goondiwindi, Dubbo, Coonamble, Nyngan, Eight Mile Plains, Inverell, Moss Vale, Chinchilla, Dalby, Walcha and Wagga Wagga who all helped us with staffing the event. All of these staff put in a huge effort for this year’s event and helped make it what it was.”

Photo by Jo Thieme Photography

For more information on Nutrien Equine visit: https://www.nutrienequine.com.au/