A REINVENTED program will be revealed for the 15th Paradise Lagoons Campdraft which will be held in Rockhampton in July this year.
The Paradise Lagoons Campdraft Committee are planning a new program for the July 19 to 22 event, making it their quest to reignite the Acton family dream.
Headlining the program will be the Graeme Acton Memorial Open Campdraft, in dedication to the Paradise Lagoons founder, who had big dreams of taking the Australian campdrafting industry to another level in world class facilities.
This year there will be two, three round open campdrafts plus a Super Girl Campdraft competition for the mares back on the program.
There are also fresh plans in place for maiden/novice riders, with the straight-out competition only containing the highest scoring maiden/novice rider combination taken from scores in the first round of both the open campdraft events.
Paradise Lagoons Campdraft Committee member Geoff MacCartney said while planning was in its early stages, the committee hoped to get the event back to where it was before Graeme’s death.
“It's got fairly wide spectator appeal,” Mr MacCartney said.
“One thing Graeme Acton catered for when he built this complex was spectators, he has a huge attention to making as spectator friendly as possible.
“His son Tom is now the president and we’re trying to get the whole deal back on track.
“Prior to Graeme's death we had 5000 runs over a five day period. We have three arenas we can run at any one time.”
Mr MacCartney said the committee would hold their AGM on January 20, where the restructure will be further discussed with a full program to be released in coming months.
It comes after the committee and volunteers, sponsors, family and friends gathered for a BBQ at the Paradise Lagoons complex last month to celebrate a successful 2017.