Poultry judge David Simons, from Caboolture, with the Grand Champion of the show, a Brown Red Modern Game hen shown by Cameron Rutledge, from Wondai … the hen was also sashed Champion Hardfeather Bantam
May 9, 2018
The organisers of the South Burnett’s largest rural show are smiling after looking over the results of a big weekend at Kingaroy Showground.
Between 4500 and 5000 paying guests visited the Kingaroy Show on Saturday and Sunday, accompanied by probably another 2000-3000 children.
The three-day show kicked off on Friday with a large dog show and numbers up on last year.
The main show days were Saturday and Sunday, with two huge nights of entertainment scheduled.
Cattle numbers were down, due to Beef Expo in Rockhampton, but Kingaroy State High School students still entered beasts for judging.
Saturday featured dressage and other equestrian events in the main ring followed by the finals of the Stihl v Husqvarna chainsaw challenge, a MX motorbikes display, a 20-minute performance of songs from the South Burnett Musical Comedy Society’s upcoming performance of Les Miserables and a massive fireworks display.
The only hitch on the night was caused by a bunch of galahs – the feathered variety – who gnawed out some PA wiring, which meant there was no music to accompany the pyrotechnics.
Showjumping was held on Sunday morning, moved this year to the equestrian area near the cattle yards.
This freed up the main ring in preparation for the evening’s speedway racing, an annual bonus included in the cost of the entry tickets.
The night’s racing included the Wingless Sprints Queensland Title,
Winner was NSW driver David Eggins, fresh from the Australian Grand Prix in Lismore on Friday, who qualified in pole position for the 30-lap final and led the whole way home, despite multiple race re-starts.
Queensland champion, Scott Thomsen, crashed out of contention earlier in the race.
Opposition Leader – and former Wandoan Miss Showgirl and Miss South West Queensland – Deb Frecklington, centre, with a bevy of showgirls .. back row, from left, Miss Junior Showgirl Remy Favier, 2017 South Burnett Rural Ambassador Kate Roberts, Miss Showgirl entrants Kirsty Horne and Monique Wilton, and Kingaroy Miss Showgirl Courtney Burrows; front row, Miss Show Princess Chloe Retschlag, Miss Show Princess runner-up Erin Schloss, Miss Junior Showgirl runner-up Keeley Schloss and Little Miss Showgirl Lily Reidy
‘Banjo’, from Wallace’s Puppets, was serenading his young audience
Louis Brown, 4, from Kingaroy, was having fun in the animal nursery
South Burnett National Show Society president Gary Barron, secretary Tracey Reidy and 2018 Kingaroy Rural Ambassador Will JohnsonKingaroy Show Queen Mavis Rasmussen with Cr Danita PotterDamien Martoo, from The Martoo Review, was live streaming the Grand Parade and official opening ceremonySome of the miniature horse stars of the Grand ParadeThere was no truck show in Kingaroy this year, but this Blitz truck still attracted attention … there’s plans to bring the popular truck show back for next year’s showAuctioneer Bill Steffensen, from Goodger, with Ron Barron, from Wattle Grove … Ron’s brother, Show Society president Gary, prepared the large local produce display in the Kucks PavilionDebbie and Emily Rutledge, from Wondai, were admiring the floral displays in the pavilion … Emily’s brother Cameron showed the champion fowl, and her son, Tyson, showed the junior championAnne Logan, from Kingaroy, was checking out the local produce in the pavilion … Anne was one of the many South Burnett Musical Comedy Society singers who presented items from Les Miserables on stage later on Saturday nightTyler, 5, and Sophie McKay, 2, from Wondai, were exploring the Kingaroy Show with their grandparentsGwen Olm, from Wondai, was awarded the woodworking Grand Champion prize for her pyrography portrait of a water dragonJo Berry, from Kingsley Grove Wines, and Jen Lonsdale-Light, from JJ’s Kitchen, had adjoining stalls in the Trade Pavilion … JJ’s Kitchen featured salsas and confectioneryThe QCWA Luncheon Pavilion was kept busy all day … Mollie Kratzmann and Julianne Cross, from the Kumbia branch, with Lois Thurecht, centre, from the Kingaroy branch; volunteers also came from the Nanango, Kingaroy Twilight and Wooroolin branchesThe mini-horse show ran on both Saturday and Sunday with more than 100 participantsThere was plenty of woodshopping and chainsaw action at the weekend … this is Heat 1 of the 275mm underhandWally Sawatzki, from Wattle Camp; Alan McComiskie, Murgon; Rod Andrews, Kingaroy; and Robyn Morton, Tingoora, from the Burnett Bird Keepers who were looking after a display of native and exotic birds
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Kingaroy pig producer Ray Lucas dominated in the Carcase ClassicThe 2018 Queensland Pork and Bacon Carcase Classic – a competition which was launched at the 2014 Kingaroy Show – featured entries from eight piggeries.
The 40 pigs were slaughtered and judged at Swickers, with the winners announced at a dinner at the Kingaroy RSL on Thursday night.
