Blackbutt Show Society secretary Julie Taylor-Dixon shares a laugh with Rollo The Clown at this year’s Blackbutt Show; attendances were up, and so were exhibits
A daring young woman on a flying trapeze was one of several new things to see at this year’s Blackbutt Show

May 19, 2015

The Blackbutt Show Society is delighted with the turnout to this year’s Blackbutt Show on Saturday.

There were large numbers of competitors in the beef and equestrian sections, in the pavilion competitions, and through the gates.

The show was the culmination of a year of careful planning and while ominous clouds at times threatened rain, the day turned out to be cool and pleasant.

Show Society secretary Julie Taylor-Dixon said while exact gate numbers weren’t yet known, she felt this year’s attendance figures were at least equal to last year and possibly even more.

“We’ve worked hard to revamp and update the Show, and people seem to like what we’ve been doing,” she said.

This year guests were treated to a Dog Show, a circus show complete with roving stilt-walkers and a clown, a fashion show in the undercover area, amusement rides, face painting, and laser skirmish.

As usual, wood chopping events also drew big numbers of competitors and specators, with axemen slogging it out in the woodchop arena.

Pavilion Chief Steward Ian Tigell said the Show Society had repainted the pavilion’s display benches for this year’s show and had used a new hanging system to display the many beautiful quilts produced by Timber Towns quilters.

Ian said the only slight disappointment this year was in the horticultural section where unseasonal weather had worked against many exhibitors and kept entry numbers slightly down.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who performed the Show’s official opening, said she was impressed with the obvious hard work the Show Society committee had put into staging the event.

“Blackbutt and Benarkin are the southern gateway to the South Burnett and this show illustrates just how special and unique they are,” she said.

In the evening, the festivities were capped off with fireworks and entertainment from Neil Duddy which continued until late.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, who performed the Show’s official opening, chats with Chief Steward Ian Tigell about the newly painted main pavilion, which now looks stylish and modern

Stilt walkers Jessie The Young Cowgirl and Cindy Bullseye entertained the crowd

Abbie Ohl, from Nanango, entered her long-haired Havanese dog ‘Bear’ in the Dog Show
SBRC Division 2 Cr Deb Palmer was full of praise for the quilt displays at this year’s show, many of which were mounted on a new wall hanging system

Snr Constable Adam Entwistle, from Kumbia, chats with Mark Beutel, from Bribie Island

Cindy Scriven and Elyse Young came from Yarraman for a fun day’s outing at the show
2015’s Miss Blackbutt Showgirl Rebekah Grob took a moment to relax with friend Nikita Cashmere and enjoy the Big Top Entertainment circus show after a long morning of official duties

Committee members Dave Robison, Julie Taylor-Dixon, Susan Strid and Jeanette Berry manned the Show Society’s office …

… while Geoffrey Jacobson, Trudi and Michael Jenkins and Kevin Alice, from the Taromeo Rural Fire Brigade, looked after the gate
Gabby Wooler demonstrates her winning whip cracking talents (Photo: Annette Schumacher)

Entrants in the Storybook Fancy Dress competition being presented with their prizes (Photo: Annette Schumacher)

The Blackbutt State School Choir sang the National Anthem during the official opening (Photo: Annette Schumacher)
Rollo the Clown kept everyone amused at Big Top Entertainment’s old-time circus show
(Photo: Annette Schumacher)

Peter Harvey, from PJH MetalWorks, demonstrated the art of blacksmithing

A large field of competitors entered this year’s wood chopping competitions
Competitors in the Open Underarm competition had to battle it out through several heats

* * *

Photos From The Ring

By Denise Keelan Photography

Champion European Bull “Jen-Daview Jay Boy” exhibited by handler Corey Evans with Blackbutt Showgirl Rebekah Grob

Grand Champion British Bull “Barker’s Creek Jabbawookee” from Nanango State High School

Grand Champion British Female “Kelsie” from Kingaroy State High School
401kg & Over Led Steer ‘Tucker ‘ exhibited by Bob and Elaine Dull, with Champion Led Steer Handler Aaron Campbell, from Toowoomba

Junior Handler (14 & Over) Shane Sterling gives his beast a gentle tickle prior to final judging in the main arena

Judge Ian McConnell congratulates handler Corey Evans on Supreme Champion Stud Beef exhibit “Jen-Daview Jay Boy”
Windera’s Callum McUtchen, 3, and brother Rory, 5, gave a completely new meaning to the term Young Handlers at this year’s Blackbutt Show

Supreme Show Hunter Hack ‘Dicavalli Royal Gucchi’ ridden by Jane Clifford

Supreme Champion Hack ‘Farleigh Angelique’ ridden by Lisa Jones
Claudia James, from Windera, on multiple ribbon winner “Antrium Ebony Gold”
Grand Champion Led Mare “J’Ãdore” with Peter Baldwin and, at rear, judges Melinda Robinson, Teena Cruchly, Anne Fisher-McElroy and Leonie Walsh; front, Blackbutt Showgirl Rebekah Grob and Lorraine Wyvill representing Bendigo Community Bank
The winners of this year’s Under 21 Championship were Gerald Youles (1st), Jack Argent (2nd) and Jayden Donovan (3rd); they are pictured with Lorraine Wyvil and Anne Woodrow from Bendigo Bank which sponsored the competition

[More photos available from Denise Keelan Photography]


 

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