Ken Wormwell
When it comes to equine experience and achievement, few would surpass the exploits of Ken Wormwell during a lifetime dedicated to horses and horse sports in country Queensland.
Ken Wormwell was born in 1921, and after starting to compete in campdrafts at 18 years of age he continued campdrafting well into his seventies. His successes included a Grandfather Clock at Chinchilla, Longreach Gold Cup, Cunnamulla Gold Cup and numerous Gold Bits from Injune and Golden Horseshoes from Taroom. In 1960 he won the World Title Maiden at Winton on a mare called Cloud. He won the 1974 Australian Campdraft Association Horse of the Year with Tiptoes, and was second in the Champion Rider standings in the same year.
He was also among the first members of the Australian Campdraft Association (ACA) and has been acknowledged for his contribution to its development when named on the ACA’s Roll of Honour.
Ken’s life has revolved around horses and cattle. He did his first droving trip aged 17 with packhorses, before graduating to the wagonette and later trucks. One of his longer droving trips was from Longreach to Singleton.
On the rodeo circuit during the 1940’s, Ken Wormwell won numerous buckjump competitions, in older style saddles, bulldogging and bullock riding as well as pick-up team competitions with his uncle Dave Wormwell. In polocrosse he won numerous prizes for best number one player and horse combination.
He annexed his horse career with a shift of interest to thoroughbred racing, and as an owner-breeder has amassed (as at 2003) over 60 victories from Birdsville to Brisbane to Rockhampton.
In the 21st century’s technological era, few if any, are likely to match the time so skilfully spent in the saddle by Ken Wormwell.