New ABCRA CEO steps straight into National Finals spotlight

One week into the role, the new Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association (ABCRA) Chief Executive Officer Chris Webb has his boots on the ground, arriving in time for the Association’s National Finals Rodeo in Tamworth during the city’s Country Music Festival.

“I’ve stepped straight in the deep end,” he said.

ABCRA President Jeff Edwards said the Board welcomed Mr Webb’s appointment as the Association enters its next chapter.

“Chris’ leadership style and experience will be an important feature as we continue the organisation’s journey into its 80th year and embracing growth and modernisation,” he said.

Drawing on more than 25 years’ experience across professional rugby with the Wallabies and Olympic-level equestrian programs with Equestrian Australia, Mr Webb said he was looked forward to seeing Australia’s top competitors converge on Tamworth. Mr Webb also has a family background in

“We know that the competition will be high, so that’s probably what I’m looking forward to the most.”

While the immediate focus was on the National Finals, Mr Webb said strategic planning was underway.

“Obviously everyone’s focused on the final and that’s really important. So that’s our priority at the moment,” he said.

“But we’ve been spending a fair bit of time on the board around our strategic outlook and what we want to do.

“We’ve been looking at modernising because, as we know, everybody consumes things a lot differently than they did 10 years ago, so how do we make sure that we’re honouring the tradition of the sport and honouring its history and its heritage, but at the same time bringing it forward to where we are now.” 

Mr Webb said strengthening pathways from grassroots to elite competition, alongside sustainable growth, would be central to the Association’s future.

“It’s an extremely popular sport, both sports – rodeo and campdrafting – for different reasons,” he said.

“How do we promote a pathway? How do we not only improve the product at the high end, but also commercialise that and monetise it so we can reinvest back in the sport.”

He said governance, safety and animal welfare would remain priorities.

“Because we’ve got animals involved and there is some risk involved with both sports, we want to be safe and our animal welfare has to be an absolute priority,” Mr Webb said.

With ABCRA’s head office based in Tamworth, Mr Webb said hosting the National Finals alongside the Country Music Festival presented a great opportunity to demonstrate what the city had to offer at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre.

“To showcase the best talent in the best event, in the best facility, what an opportunity,” he said.