With a motto of “making do with what you’ve got”, an enthusiastic Blackall show committee provided a ton of fun for patrons on Saturday.
The district might not have had any sheep or cattle to exhibit for the second year in a row, and the wool display had a decidedly regional flavour, but there was plenty for horse enthusiasts to do.
For those without a horse, there were ‘iron’ horses to ride in the form of barrel racing on four wheels in the newly-introduced Barcoo Challenge night time event.
It was entertainment-plus, with a muster of balls to start the action, followed by a beer-drinking, steel-peg-driving, car-pushing round to sort the wheat from the chaff, with the West of the Barcoo team – Ben and Oona Banks, Ben Walker and Craig Sanderson – taking home the $800 prize.
The event was preceded by the ever-popular dog-jumping competition, which this year included an ambitious Staffie paraded by Matt Adams, whose legs weren’t as powerful as his heart.
Blackall sisters Alex and Ella Pearson from Terrick vied for the title, whistling their hounds to great heights.
It was Ella’s dog Jekka that won in a final leap of 2.25m. By comparison, Longreach Kelpie Sasha, owned by Jo Milne, last year jumped 2.82m at the Landsborough Flock Ewe Show, chasing the world record of 2.91m set in Casterton, Victoria in 2007.
Secretary Lorelei Kiernan said organisers were overwhelmed with numbers through the gate, estimated at around 1000, considering times were so tough.
The free gate was sponsored by the Neighbourhood Centre program, making use of drought relief funding.
Stockman’s Challenge organisers were kept busy with 60 runs using cattle donated by the Davidson family at Cheshire, Tambo.
Blackall’s Kirstie Hayman had a very successful day, claiming first in the classic section, and second and fourth in the open, while her sister Marion was a close second in the classic, and also took out first and equal third places in the beginner challenge.
Tambo’s Darryl Ogden won the open challenge and Beau Frame of Blackall was third.
In the beginner, Red Politch was second, Brett Hayman was equal third, and Lisa Bennett from Barcaldine was fourth.
Other placegetters in the classic were Mark Wemyss, third and Helen Aspinall fourth.
The juvenile draft was a two-family race – Tambo’s Luke and Kylie Clifford were first and third respectively, splitting the two horses ridden by Yaraka’s Bella Joseland, who was second and fourth.
Horses were also on the ground for team penning after a hiatus of a year, and 32 teams tried their luck.
At the end of the competition, locals Helen and Ray Aspinall teamed up with Craig Clifford at Tambo for the win.
Yaraka’s Courtney Lloyd rode with Beau Frame and Mike Wacker of Blackall for second, and Courtney and Beau also took out third, along with Scott McCormack.
Fleeces from Morven to Longreach made up the display in the wool court, which steward Ian Macdonald described as a good result in present conditions.
There were no lambs’ fleeces this year.
Peter Sealy from Elders judged that Tambo property Macfarlane had the champion flock fleece of the show, shown by Andrew and Louise Martin, while Bloomfield at Blackall had the best group of fleeces.
Macfarlane also won the Norman and Marion White Shield for the flock aggregate.
The grand champion fleece of the show was shown by Victoria Downs while Barcaldine Downs had the reserve.
The Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar opened the show, describing it as a ‘circuit breaker’ in tough times.