{"id":366347,"date":"2025-11-05T21:09:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T11:09:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=366347"},"modified":"2025-11-07T22:29:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T12:29:12","slug":"celebrities-flock-to-kumbia-races","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/11\/05\/celebrities-flock-to-kumbia-races\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrities Flock To Kumbia Races"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Queensland Racing Integrity Commission Deputy Commissioner Chantal Raine, Dan Homewood, from Coolum; and QRIC Commissioner Catherine Clark judged the Fashions of the Field competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 5, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Racing was almost the secondary thing on most people’s minds at Tuesday’s “Flemington In The Bush” race meeting at Kumbia.<\/p>\n

Firstly, there was the visit by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, then there was the apparent filming of segments for a reality TV show and finally,\u00a0 of course, was the hotly contested Fashions of the Field competition.<\/p>\n

Premier Crisafulli was accompanied by his wife Tegan and Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and her husband Jason.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Security appeared to have been beefed up at the track for the Premier’s visit, with both plain clothes and uniform police trackside.<\/p>\n

Coolabunia dairy farmer Jason Tessmann, a contestant in next year’s Channel 7 show “Farmer Wants A Wife”, is a regular at the Kumbia Races but this year brought along an entourage that included cameramen, sound people and two women … Logan and Poppy (are they also contestants on the show?).<\/p>\n

Jason took part in the Fashions competition in the Best Dressed Couples category with two entries: Jason and Logan, and Jason and Poppy. The two couples came equal third which caused some sashing problems for South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff …<\/p>\n

Out on the track, the racing went more smoothly.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Race 4 was run in memory of departed members of the Lenihan, Smoothy, McConville and Moloney families – all names closely connected to racing in Kumbia.<\/p>\n

Former club presidents Tom Moloney and Brian Lenihan both died earlier this year after decades of service to local racing.<\/p>\n

The feature race of the day, the Huston Motors Kumbia Cup, had just seven starters after seven entrants were scratched.<\/p>\n

Jockey Rebecca Wilson was dislodged after the turn from four-year-old gelding Rothfury, but was uninjured.<\/p>\n

Rothfury finished the race riderless, and then proved a handful for race officials to catch.<\/p>\n

Cup winner Tijuana Two-Step, trained in Toowoomba by Don Baker, has qualified to take part in the $200,000 Country Cups Challenge which will be raced at Doomben on December 6.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The off-track excitement included a visit by Premier David Crisafulli and Attorney-General Deb Frecklington as well as the TV crew shooting “Farmer Wants A Wife” contestant Jason Tessmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jim and Maggie McNee, Peter and Raelene Hill, Diane Deller and Jenny Fuller from Minyama … every year neighbours from the same street in this Sunshine Coast suburb come up to the Kumbia Races!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kiara Wilson and Caitlyn Cassidy, from Nanango, were enjoying a day at the races<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cr Danita Potter with her mum, Marie Shaw, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Brooke and Riley Cavanagh, from Kumbia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Premier David Crisfulli and his wife Tegan, left,\u00a0 and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington shared a joke with “Farmer Wants A Wife” contestant Jason Tessmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Deputy Mayor Ros Heit, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, Premier David Crisafulli, Mayor Kathy Duff and Cr Deb Dennien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Leanne Hams with Steph Grieve, from Nanango, and Michele Perrett, Gympie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tom Chapman, Kumbia; Hannah Kavney, Kumbia; Ashley Kempson, Byron Bay; Diana Krivanek, Austria; Lauren Howard-Hickey, Singleton; Amy Kempson, Kumbia; and Megan Price, from England<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
LEFT: Lilly Barratt-Coates and Shannon Christian, Kumbia RIGHT: Cr Deb Dennien and Fashions of the Field compere Asha Cooper, from the Sunshine Coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Veronica Webster, Jandowae; Leisa Porter, Highfields; Trish Heron and Roby Saal, from Toowoomba, and Carolyn Stone from Ironpot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Senior\u00a0Constable Samantha Giles,<\/em> Acting Sergeant Todd Armstrong and Senior Constable Jasmine Bonwick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jason Tessmann was being covered from every angle!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The undercover area next to the bar was popular with racegoers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fashions Of The Field<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Most Stylish Goddess (50 & Over) winners … Rhonda Kath, Benair (3rd); Annette Newman, Kumbia (2nd) and Verelle O’Shanesy, Jandowae (1st) with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff who sashed the winners of the fashions competitions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Fashions of the Field competition was compered by former Miss Universe Australia finalist – and former Kingaroy State High School student – Asha Cooper.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judges were Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Catherine Clark, Deputy Commissioner Chantal Raine and Dan Homewood, from Coolum.<\/p>\n

NB. Judging of the Fashions competitions were squeezed between races and unfortunately the judging of the Most Stylish Goddess (Under 50) clashed with a race start. Winners were Rebecca Jane, Gympie (1st), Jacqueline Ferling, Kilcoy (2nd) and Shae Cull (3rd), Kingaroy.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Best Dressed Gentlemen winners … Florence The Flamingo! (3rd), Shannon Christian, Kumbia (2nd), Riley Cavanagh, Kumbia (1st) and Mayor Duff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Mayor Duff had the difficult task of sashing the 3rd place tie in the Best Dress Couples competition … Farmer Wants A Wife contestant Jason Tessmann, from Coolabunia, accompanied two entrants, Poppy and Logan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Best Dressed Couples winners … Poppy, Logan and Jason Tessmann (tied 3rd); Lilly Barratt-Coates and Shannon Christian, Kumbia (2nd) and Harry Campbell and Shay Barron, Kumbia (1st) with Mayor Duff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Best Headwear winners … Hayley Wolski, Chinchilla (3rd); Aleisha Roberts, Wondai (2nd); and Chanelle Ferling, Kilcoy (1st) with Mayor Duff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Race Results<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tijuana Two-Step, with Brea Harrison on board, gallops away to win the Kumbia Cup … with daylight coming second<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Race 1 \u2013 Powersafe Kingaroy Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m)
\n<\/strong>1. Hey Pumpkin (6)\u00a0 \u2013 Chloe Lowe
\n2. Duchess of Argyll (4) \u2013 Jade Metcalfe
\n3. Goose Step (2) \u2013 Les Tilley
\nTime: 0:56.88
\nMargins: 3 lengths x neck<\/p>\n

Race 2 \u2013 Deb Frecklington MP \/ Raine & Horne Kingaroy Benchmark 60 Handicap (1200m
\n<\/strong>1. Scarlett Thunder\u00a0 (10) \u2013 Rebecca Wilson
\n2. Might Judd (12) \u2013 Les Tilley
\n3. Mr Wandji (5) \u2013 Nathan Fazackerley
\nTime: 1:10.22
\nMargins: 2 lengths x 1 1\/2 lengths<\/p>\n

Race 3 \u2013 Kingaroy Quarry Supplies QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)<\/strong>
\n1. Standlee (1) \u2013 Nathan Fazackerley
\n2. Vizstar (2) \u2013 Corey Bayliss
\n3. Superior Fun (5) \u2013 Brea Harrison
\nTime: 1:11.38
\nMargins: 2 lengths x 2 lengths<\/p>\n

Race 4 \u2013 Memorial For Lenihan, Smoothy, McConville & Moloney Families Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1400m)
\n<\/strong>1. Bugden (4) \u2013 Corey Bayliss
\n2. Black Country (2) \u2013 Jade Metcalfe
\n3. Miss Adrenalin (7) \u2013 Courtney Ferris
\nTime: 1:24.07
\nMargins: 3\/4 length x\u00a0 1\/2 length<\/p>\n

Race 5 \u2013 Huston Motors Kumbia Cup \/ Country Cups Challenge Qualifier Open Handicap (1400m)
\n<\/strong>1. Tijuana Two-Step (6) \u2013 Brea Harrison
\n2. Kiptanui (8) \u2013 Kelsey Lenton
\n3. Ariat (10) \u2013 Courtney Ferris
\nTime: 1:22.08
\nMargins: 3 3\/4 lengths x neck<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hey Pumpkin races to the line to take out Race 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jockey Rebecca Wilson and Scarlett Thunder return to scale after victory in Race 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, left, and her sister Jackie Allery, from Raine & Horne Kingaroy, sponsored Race 2 … Premier David Crisafulli joined the pair in presenting the trophies to winning jockey Rebecca Wilson and owner \/ trainer Stacey Meskin (centre)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bugden (Corey Bayliss) leads the field home in Race 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Race 4 was dedicated to the memory of members of the Lenihan, Smoothy, McConville and Moloney families … Kumbia Race Club officials joined family members for the trophy presentation to jockey Corey Bayliss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Rothfury evades capture after tossing its jockey in Race 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
This is what they wanted to take home in Race 5 … the Kumbia Cup and the Country Cups Regional Winner trophy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Racing was almost the secondary thing on most people’s minds at Tuesday’s “Flemington In The Bush” race meeting at Kumbia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":366360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,3,58,6],"tags":[73,1136],"yoast_head":"\nCelebrities Flock To Kumbia Races - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Racing was almost the secondary thing on most people's minds at Tuesday's "Flemington In The Bush" race meeting at Kumbia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/11\/05\/celebrities-flock-to-kumbia-races\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Celebrities Flock To Kumbia Races - 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