Judging the tiny tots competition at the 116th annual Cobargo Show are (from left) Cobargo Showgirl Emma Lee, Junior Showgirl Vashti Herbert and junior runnners-up Vicki Robinson and Barbara Batts.
IT SEEMS nothing can keep a good show down.
Despite erratic weather and a summer heatwave that threatened to ruin the produce competition, Cobargo Show has been hailed an outstanding success.
“What a show, it was absolutely brilliant!” Cobargo AP&H president Kevin Allen said.
“We took a gamble by moving the show to Saturday and Sunday, but gate numbers on the Sunday were phenomenal.
“The young people loved it, so I think the Saturday to Sunday show is here to stay.”
The punishing heat on Saturday did nothing to deter crowds and the stands were filled with spectators enjoying equestrian events, steer riding and the very entertaining junior rodeo.
Almost as long as the queues at the many ice-cream and cold drink stands dotted around the showground was the line of people eager to get into the pavilion when it opened at noon on Saturday.
Fears that January’s extreme heat would kill off flower beds and vegie patches across the district were dispelled by the many colourful displays of succulent produce and floral arrangements that filled the pavilion.
“Entries were of a very high standard in the pavilion, there were many, many outstanding displays,” Mr Allen said.
Mr Allen also praised the quality of entries in both dairy and beef cattle.
“We had a record number of beef cattle entries, we may need to think about making the ring bigger next year,” he said.
The official opening of the 116th Cobargo Show at 2.30pm was almost stopped as a storm rolled in and lightning became the backdrop to speeches by Mr Allen and Member for Bega Andrew Constance.
Former Bega Valley Shire mayor Tony Allen officially opened the show.
The Cobargo local told the crowd of his proud association with the show and his earliest memories of exhibiting when he was just six years old.
The storms that affected other areas of the Valley didn’t trouble show proceedings and spectators enjoyed an afternoon of dog jumping and motorbike obstacle races.
The Sunday program included showjumping, poultry judging and heavy horses and harness events.
Later in the day, the show hosted the Cobargo Co-op camp draft and the open steer and bull rides.
“They were both great events, the bull riders are definitely a brave brunch and put on a spectacular show,” Mr Allen said.
The success of the Cobargo show – both in terms of entrants and gate numbers - bodes well for the Bega Show which begins this Friday.
* Visit www.begadistrictnews.com.au/story/1295478/cobargo-show-photo-gallery/?cs=511 for a gallery of photos from the Cobargo Show.
Show success
MOVING the Cobargo show to a Saturday and Sunday was a tremendous success, AP&H Society president Kevin Allen said.
Previously the show had been on the Friday and Saturday.
“Our gate takings for Saturday were higher than last year,” he said.
Mr Allen thanked his committee, particularly secretary Lynne Parr, and all the willing workers.
“I also thank the sponsors without whom we wouldn’t be able to put on the show and they have been particularly generous this year.”
Exhibits in the pavilion were not only up but were of a very high standard, despite the weather.
Dairy and beef cattle entries were also up and Mr Allen said the difference in beef cattle entries was quite remarkable and this was partly due to the agricultural course at Narooma High School with the students entering a number of their cattle.
Both dairy judge Andrew Cullen and beef cattle judge Max Atkins said the quality of entries were of an extremely high standard.
A Holstein, Smallridge Sanchez Snow exhibited by Smallridge Holsteins won the supreme champion dairy cow of the show, with White Lakes Daisy Dust exhibited by Craig Corby, the supreme beef animal of the show.
James Burgess won the bird of the show in the poultry section.
In the pavilion Vashti Herbert won the prestigious Lee and Nguyen Perpetual Trophy for the Youth highest point-score.