Running for over 62 years now, the Coonamble Rodeo & Campdraft is the largest event held each year in the town and is the largest combined Rodeo/Campdraft in the Southern Hemisphere. Around 1000 cowboys and cowgirls, along with approximately 4000 spectators, head across the central-western plains of NSW to the edge of the Outback, transforming the Coonamble Showground into a full-on explosion of wild riding action.

The first Rodeo ever recorded in Coonamble was run in conjunction with the annual P & A Show in 1934. It consisted of one event – a steer ride, won by Mr Doug Fisher. One-off events such as these were held each year with all proceeds going to charity. In 1946 the Coonamble Rodeo Association was formed and Rodeo’s were held in the middle of a hard dirt paddock where stock often got away and was “lost” for days!

Rodeo is made up of a wide range of events that test competitors in every way.

Bull Riding, Bareback Riding, Saddlebronc, Steerwrestling, Rope & Tie, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Race, Breakaway Roping and Steer Undecorating.

Campdrafting involves a mounted rider riding into a “camp” or yard, which has six to eight head of cattle in it. The rider (cuts out) one steer or heifer from the cattle in the camp and brings that beast to the front of the camp and block and turns that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control. The rider then calls for the gates to be opened. The cut out is worth a total of 26 points.