COVID has struck once again impacting the ability to run large scale events like the annual Glowalman Junior Campdraft, Challenge and Sporting Championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
According to the committee, the combined issues of the current resurgence of COVID along with continual rain impacting the Gloucester Showground, the difficult decision to postpone the event was made late on Monday night, June 28.
It's the second year in a row the event has been halted.
Last year, the committee made the decision to cancel the event due to COVID-19 on June 19, two and half weeks before it was meant to run from July 5 to July 10.
In an almost déjà vu situation this year, the near-week long event was postponed a week before it was due to take place from last Monday, July 5 until Saturday, July 10.
It's a devastating blow for the organisers and competitors who all look forward to getting together every year during the second week of the July school holidays.
For them, it's not just about the competition but the chance to socialise and catch up with friends.
"It's one of the biggest and best families you'll ever meet," foundational organiser Fred Patterson said.
It's one of the biggest and best families you'll ever meet.
- Fred Patterson
The event runs across three showgrounds in the Mid Coast region - Gloucester, Wingham and Nabiac, and is a joint venture by the Gloucester Junior Rodeo, Wallamba Junior Rodeo and the Manning Junior Rodeo committees.
Gloucester was set to kick off the week by holding two days (Monday and Tuesday) of challenge, sporting, stockrider and campdrafting.
After a break on Wednesday, the event was to continue with Wallamba holding a day (Thursday) of campdrafting, sporting and stockrider.
Manning was then lined up to close out the champions on Friday and Saturday with two days of challenge, sporting, stockrider and campdrafting.
Being one of the biggest junior events on the Australian Bushmen's Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA)'s calendar, the joint committees went into discussions with the affiliated organisation to make a final decision about whether or not the event should proceed.
At this stage, the event has been postponed with the hope to run it later in the year, if possible, however new dates are yet to be set.
Did you know? Great Lakes Advocate online subscribers not only have 24/7 access to local and national news, sport, what's on and entertainment - they also have access to our print editions in digital format, with all the advertisements and classifieds at their fingertips.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
