Beau Beutel from Kalbar proved he’s a top gun in campdraft at Australia’s biggest campdrafting competition in Tamworth, last week.

Beau, 18, won the Charlie Maher Young Guns Campdraft on Reys Ya Garter in the Nutrien (formerly Landmark) Classic Campdraft. 

The Young Guns competition is one of the key features in the nine day event in what is described as the nation’s premier campdrafting competition and performance horse sale. Beau took the honours in the competition which commemorates the Classic Co-Founder Charlie Maher. 

“[Young Guns] showcases the incredible young talent of our campdrafting community and draws a large and enthusiastic crowd to what is one of Nutrien’s most loved events,” says organiser Mark Barton.

It was Beau’s first tilt at the Young Guns title competing against 187 other riders.

“He scored 89 out of 100 in the first round and 92 out of 100 in the second and final round,” reported his mum, Tracey Moffatt.

“There were 20 riders in the final and Beau was number 3 - so we were on the edge of our seats watching the live stream from Tamworth as we waited to see if any rider bettered his score.”

His grandparents, Don and Kate Moffatt, were in the crowd at the Australian Equine and Livestock Centre in Tamworth. They were seated with one of Beau’s mentors, Wayne Carney from Aratula, who is a former winner of the prestigious Condamine Bell campdraft.

“Hugh Miles is another mentor,” Tracey said. “He normally rides Reys Ya Garter and is the inaugural winner of the Young Guns competition and is a winner of the Australian Campdrafting Championship”.

Beau went to Tamworth a couple of weeks ahead of the Classic to do some training with Hugh and also to help him prepare the horses he’d entered in the sale.

“It has been an honour to ride beside Wayne and Hugh - I’ve learned from the best,” Beau said.

He also acknowledged the compliment paid to him by Reys Ya Garter owners, Corey and Trudy Holden.

“I thank them for having the faith in me to treat him as he deserves. He is one big-hearted horse.”

Beau credits his grandfather, Don, for introducing him to horses when he was 10-years-old.

“He’s been following me to campdrafts ever since.”

With his win of the prestigious Young Guns, Beau continues a strong line of local campdrafters who were champions in their sport.

These include his great grandfathers, Scott Moffatt Snr and Bert Kerwin and his great uncle Gus Moffatt.

“The winning of the Young Guns buckle is very encouraging for Beau,” said Tracey. “He left school in Year 10 with his sights set on becoming a champion campdrafter.

“We now joke that the next thing will be a Warwick Gold Cup but that’s a few years off yet.”