Willinga Park will be the stage for the Pryde’s EasiFeed NCCA National Champion Rider in 2026, with the prestigious event being held during the iconic Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship for the first time.
Already one of Australia’s premier campdrafting showcases, the Championship event brings together elite riders and world‑class horses at a purpose‑built facility for four days of top‑level competition and horsemanship. This year’s program is set to be even more action‑packed with the addition of the Pryde’s EasiFeed NCCA National Champion Rider.
The Pryde’s EasiFeed National Champion Rider features top riders from Australia’s four major Campdrafting Associations - the Gippsland Campdraft Association (GCA), the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association (ABCRA), the Southern Campdrafting Association (SCA) and the Australian Campdraft Association (ACA). Each association will send its best five riders plus its Champion Lady Rider to compete across three rounds. The rider with the highest aggregate score will be crowned the 2026 Pryde’s EasiFeed NCCA National Champion Rider.
Pryde’s Sponsored Rider Mathew Holz is among the elite group of competitors and he’s feeling enthusiastic about returning to Willinga Park.
“It’s such an amazing venue. The facility has been purpose built for campdrafting obviously, so it’s just a great venue,” he said.
Holz’s preparation is well underway, with his horses being brought back into work after a short break. Typically, the NCCA National Champion Rider is held earlier in the year, and the shift in timing has required Holz and his team to adjust their approach.
“Our last competition would have been six or so weeks ago. Normally this is a quiet time of year for us, it’s not in our normal season,” Holz explains.
“We (gave) our horses about a month off after that last competition, and then they’ve been back in (work) for a couple of weeks now. We’re doing all the things that we do to prepare, getting them fit,” Holz said.
A recent training session gave the team a valuable competition‑style tune‑up.
“We were very fortunate to be able to use a private place on the weekend and have a campdraft and give the horses a competition style hit out without being competitive,” he said.
Holz will take seven horses into the event, while his wife Fiona will ride one, with both also contesting Restricted Open and Ladies classes.
He sees the National Champion Rider class as a vital showcase for the sport.
“It’s an event that allows the top riders from each association to compete against one another… it’s a way for all of those people to see who’s top dog on the day,” he said.
Holz is proud to ride under the Pryde’s EasiFeed banner.
“It is an honour to be sponsored by Pryde’s EasiFeed - a brand I’m proud to be associated with and one whose values align closely with my own. In both campdrafting and horse care I believe in doing things with integrity, consistency and a focus on quality and that’s exactly what Prydes delivers to its customers.
“I’ve been lucky enough to compete on some of the best horses in the sport and having them perform at their best has only been possible with the right nutrition behind them. Pryde’s has been part of that journey supporting their health condition and performance through the demands of travel, competition and recovery.”
Pryde’s EasiFeed is proud to support Mathew Holz and all riders striving for excellence at the 2026 Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship and NCCA National Champion Rider event.
The 2026 Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship begins on 8 July at Willinga Park. More details are available on the event website.