Success never tasted so sweet
Stefan Bradley
There’s little out there sweeter than the Great Gippsland Carrot Cake Contest at the Sale Show on Friday.
School students and the general public were very keen to put their best carrot cake forward to be judged by local judges Ferg Horan and Amie Boulton.
Classes for all included primary school, secondary school, open section and the new class Gold Rush wildcard that goes with the Sale Show’s ‘Gippsland Goldfields’ theme. One young participant revealed they practiced for the competition “six million times”.
Ms Boulton, from Sale described the quality of the entries as “phenomenal”.
S. Flemming won in the secondary student category. Ms Boulton said the winning cake had the flavour and consistency of a “classic” carrot cake.
“It was that classic combination of carrots, spices – a really beautiful balance,” Ms Boulton said.
In the same category, runner-up Tori McKerrow said she had been practising making carrot cakes for three years.
“I was hoping for (first place), but I feel excited to have gotten something,” she said.
Chief steward of the Great Gippsland Carrot Cake Contest, Vicki Cox lauded everyone who participated in the contest, and thanked all involved in setting it up.
“These events would not happen without people willing to be generous with their time and energy,” Ms Cox said.
The other stewards on the day were Emma Kewish, Simone Godde, Bec Macnamara, Julie Jones and Beth Ripper.
Winners of Carrot Cake Classes:
Heather Adams Open: 1st Chloe Parkinson, 2nd Shelley Battams, 3rd Sandra Weber.
Gippsland Goldrush Wildcard: 1st Sandra Weber, 2nd Sue-Ellen Bunting, 3rd Alyssa Rowe.
Secondary students: 1st S. Flemming, 2nd Tori McKerrow, 3rd Kobe Parsons.
Primary school grades five and six: 1st Layla Smolenars, 2nd Charlotte Camm, 3rd Emme Camm.
Sale Show is bloomin’ marvellous
Stefan Bradley
The Exhibition Pavilion at the Sale Show was full of the best fruit, vegetables and floral art you could lay your eyes on.
The judges meticulously went through each entry to determine the best of the best.
The Sale and District Garden Club set up a display for the Sale Show as they always do.
First and second prize for the ‘Going Gold – gold pot with plant or plants’ display was won by Sue Higgins.
In a positive sign for the Sale Show’s longevity, Annette Frew, chief steward for flowers, fruit and vegetables, said the high number of entries demonstrated the most ever interest in the flower show in decades.
“We received a wonderful response from the public with people saying they will enter next year and exhibitors saying they will be entering more next year. So hoping for a bigger turn out next year,” Ms Frew said.
“Stewards who have been at the show for many years said it was the most exhibits they have seen since 1980!
“We’ve been really pushing the floral competition.”
There are so many exhibit winners to list, so just a handful will be listed here. Watch the Sale Show Facebook page for the rest of the results in the near future.
Flowers:
Most outstanding arrangement in floral art: Barb Harper
Most outstanding exhibit in creative floral art: Angie Lamont
Best exhibit in floral art: Heather Harrington
Aggregates, open: Debbie Krusic; intermediate: Jocelyn Harper; novice: Dianne Bloemhoff.
Champion exhibit of flowers: Glenys Russ; champion bloom, open: Mark Krusic; champion bloom, novice: Kate Doyle.
Champion rose: Peter Wylie
Overall result for Exhibition Pavillion:
Aggregate: local winner: Sue-Ellen Bunting, second: Irene Askew.
Other:
Champion vegetable: Rose Smolenaars; champion fruit: Anita Hensen.
Joan Laws Memorial Award: Rosalie Green.
Fluffy friends on parade
Erika Allen
You can’t beat a pet parade at local agricultural shows.
Attendance at the Sale Show’s pet parade was high on Saturday morning. Pet owners aged under 15 and their furry friends in all shapes, sizes, and states of dress began crowding the Kids Fun Zone by 10am.
Any pet, from guinea pigs to dogs and calves to cats, had the chance to shine in any of 13 categories. Some categories included ‘best mannered dog’, ‘dog with the waggiest tail’, ‘prettiest rabbit’, and ‘best kept unusual pet’.
Stratford local Hayden and her dog Margot were a star duo of the pet parade. While Margot was tough to wrangle in the ‘best mannered dog’ category and wouldn’t sit still, she redeemed herself in the ‘prettiest dog’ category, taking home the blue sash and trophy.
Evie from Sale and her Saluki dog Dash won the ‘best kept dog’ category. Pets in this category were judged on having a clean and well-brushed coat, clean eyes and ears, and looking well cared for. The duo were also runners-up in the ‘prettiest dog’ and third and well-mannered categories.
Another category that boosted the crowd’s energy was the ‘dog with the best trick’.
From shaking hands to dancing, dogs were putting their best paw forward. Mikyla from Morwell and chocolate Labrador retriever Bella were the last pair to show off.
As the final entrant in the final dog category of the parade, Mikyla and Bella pulled out their best tricks: not one, but a slew of tricks from sitting, lying down, shaking hands and talking. They were the overwhelming winner in this category.
Riding high at the Sale Show
Erika Allen
The sun was shining on Saturday, highlighting horses clipped and groomed to perfection as equestrian events at the 159th Sale Show ran throughout the day.
Pony club riders from Bairnsdale, Sale, Stratford and Briagolong, and their trusty horses competed in the Jack and Nancy Williamson Memorial Pony Club Ring.
Mabel Fry, a 10-year-old rider from the Bairnsdale Pony Club who has been riding for about two years, was the champion pony club rider. She and her trusty pony Westbury Breanna, affectionately called Stormy, were a great team in the ring, getting everything right to be crowned champion.
“You just have to get everything fit perfectly, ride your best, and do your workout,” Mabel said.
The pair also competed on Friday in the interschool competition in the high point grade five-six category when Mabel represented her school, Gippsland Grammar.
Stormy, a six-year-old, was a gift to Mabel on her ninth birthday and her first horse. Mabel described Stormy as “quite sassy” but kind. She’s an attention-loving horse, too.
Mabel said she loves the feeling of riding and the connection and bond she’s built with Stormy. The 10-year-old started riding after COVID-19 because it gave her an outlet. It has since become a successful hobby, with the duo travelling to compete in local agricultural shows like Sale.
Mia Allen from Briagolong and District Pony Club competed in the Jack and Nancy Williamson Memorial Pony Club Ring with her pony Dom. Mia was won champion pony club handler for being the best handler to lead her horse.
On Saturday, eight rings operated, with events covering classes including Australian stock horses, Clydesdales, and Shetlands, plus harness and novelty events.
Chloe Smith competed in open events, including the hack, in which she was champion open hack with Boyfriend Material. Other winners include Rachel Hirs, champion led pony with Bamborough Jacaranda, and Michelle Anderson, who won supreme champion led stock horse with Yarrabeepark Zazzie.
