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THE riders who had just completed a historic trail ride pioneered by WD Tarlinton in 1829 rode triumphant into the opening of the Cobargo Show after their nine-day odyssey through the wilderness.
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WD Tarlinton also happened to be the first president of the Cobargo Show and the seven riders led by his descendant Richard Tarlinton who rode into the show on Saturday afternoon were proud of his accomplishments doing the ride in his honour.
“It was a great trip and a very memorable one,” Richard told the crowd.
“I am very glad to have taken part in it after 14 years of arguing with the previous government to get back in and use the trail our ancestors put in.”
State Member Andrew Constance was at the show opening and congratulated Tarlinton and the riders for their ride and also fighting to reopen historic trails to horse riders.
“It is un-Australian to lock up the Aussie bush to wilderness when you consider how important this access is to our history,” he said. “These trails need to be protected, celebrated and reopened.”
Mr Constance joined the riders for a chat after the official duties and even hopped on Judd, one of the 15 horses used by the seven trail riders, each having a riding and a packhorse for the 125km journey.
Richard Tarlinton said the trail was still well defined and it was no problem to follow over the nine days of the ride from just southeast of Braidwood down the escarpment to Cobargo. He also thanked the private property owners who let them pass.
Back in the day the trail would have seen a steady stream of riders with all kinds of livestock from dairy cows to turkeys in the days before roads when WD Tarlinton and his fellow pioneers started farming the lush valleys around Cobargo, he said.
The opening of the 118th Cobargo Show took place in steady rain, typical of the current season and even show president Kevin Allen wasn’t complaining, noting how lush the farmland around Cobargo was this season.
He then thanked all the volunteers who had worked so hard to put the show together.
This year’s show again took place over two days and including several new events that appealed to the younger crowd including both a pizza and a pie eating contest, fancy dress for horses, while there was also the chainsaw competitions, lots of equestrian events and this year aerial motorbike daredevils.
There were still of course the traditional country show elements such as the judging of cattle, baked goods, vegetables, flowers and even cheese.
Speaking of vegetables and the weather, the growers complained about how wet it had been making the veggie patch particularly challenging, and yet there were plenty of entries and more space was needed for all the beans.
The Narooma High School agriculture students continued their excellent record at the region’s country shows bringing home several ribbons from the Cobargo Show.
In Parading, Dakota Hine got first, Alicia Bate second and Ryan Salway third. In Junior Judging, Samuel Hodge got first, Dakota Hine second and Alicia Bate third.
The Cobargo Show continued on Sunday culminating with the rodeo on in the evening and fortunately for all involved the skies were clear and sunny.
