March 31, 2016
The annual Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is on again this weekend, with three new trails for riders to explore.
The two-day Manumbar Gold Run Trail starts on Friday morning at the Manumbar Showgrounds. It will follow the Bicentennial National Trail for 60km to finish at Kilkivan on Saturday in time to take part in the Grand Parade.
The Woolooga Homer’s Gate trail, which is for horse-drawn vehicles as well as riders, will start on Saturday at the Woolooga Sale Yards. It will travel a total of 30km along the rail corridor, private property and the Bicentennial Trail before arriving at Kilkivan.
The Kilkivan Mactaggart Trail is the shortest of the 2016 trails and will begin and end at the Kilkivian Showgrounds on Saturday. It will start at 10:00am and cover 20km through private properties.
Riders on all three trails will converge on Kilkivan on Saturday afternoon for the Grand Parade down the main street, which is due to start at 4:00pm.
The parade will follow a day of fun in Kilkivan which will start at 11:00am.
There will be street stalls and entertainment, horse poo bingo, a quilt and craft display, whipcracking demonstrations, dog demonstrations, black powder guns, social line dancing, pony rides and a petting zoo.
After the Grand Parade, the focus of activities will shift to the Showground where there will be a free concert featuring Muddy Flats from 6:30pm to midnight. A bar and catering will be available from 5:00pm.
A billy boiling competition had been scheduled to be held at 7:30pm but as there will be a fire ban at the showgrounds over the weekend because of the local conditions, this may not be going ahead.
The fun will continue on Sunday at the Showgrounds with a Bush Poets Breakfast from 7:00am, followed by Team Penning and Pony Club events from 8:00am. Other novelty races are also planned.
- External link: Kilkivan Great Horse Ride website
