Pete was born in Rockhampton and spent his childhood in the idyllic settings of the Comiskey family property, “Lyra Park”, Capella. Family life was important to Pete and he has always enjoyed the unquestionable love and support of his parents and family.
School at Lyra Park consisted of 7 years of correspondence and then 3 years of boarding school at St Brendan’s College in Rockhampton. It was then home to Dad to start on a career solely based around horses, cattle and his love of campdrafting.
In his teens he took several jobs contract mustering and general station work which were invaluable in expanding his knowledge base, but his love of campdrafting always brought him home and back to the circuit.
He has drafted consistently since the age of 8, where he had a first start win at Foxleigh in the Junior on Silver. He soon stepped up the competition level and won the A.C.A. Juvenile Title in 1985, 86 & 87. His first Open Rider Title came in 1991 and then in 1995 his extraordinary run of continual Open Rider Titles started. The only year missing is 2000 when he was out with a broken leg and the Title went to Ben Hall.
In 2017/18 Pete won his 22nd A.C.A. Open Rider Title at the National Finals in Burke and Wills.
In 1991 to win his first Open Rider title, Pete campaigned 5 horses and went to about 15 drafts. For his 2012 Open Rider title he travelled 12 horses and attended 25 venues. Times are definitely changing as many of these venues are now week long competitions.
Competition and good people drive Pete to continue in the sport of Camprafting. He, his partner Bryony and youngest children Peter & Leila, travel the country competing and running clinics, from their base near Nebo in Queensland, where they run a commercial cattle herd. Pete’s 2 older son’s and extended family also frequent events and competitions and have done for many years.
A lifetime of passion, commitment and determination has enabled Pete to become one of the most accomplished competitors in this uniquely Australian Sport over the past thirty years.
As Australia’s premier Campdraft competitor, Pete Comiskey continues to reach new highs within his industry.
Changes to technology, travel, prize money, and horses have seen the industry develop and expand. With a large percentage of competitors being weekend participants and a further big percentage being full time professional horse trainers, the industry now envelops a totally diverse spectrum of people. These changes have enabled Pete to develop his own profile and the profile of the sport to new levels.
It is these changes that excite Pete Comiskey.
