Crowds flock for bull rides and stunt shows

BIG crowds turned out for the Alstonville Agricultural Show, which featured bull rides, monster trucks and high-flying freestyle motocross stunts.

The event, one of the longest running in the region, is organised by the Alstonville Agricultural Society.

The show featured everything from dog trials and cattle competitions to a junior rodeo and the crowd-favourite extreme cowboy events.

Alstonville is the only show in the region to host an extreme cowboy competition as part of its three-day program.

“It’s a fantastic event that welcomes riders of all experience levels, giving them the chance to showcase the incredible partnership between horse and rider,” said show secretary Faye Wilson.

“We’re very grateful to have the extreme cowboy team on board. It’s always a crowd favourite and a great addition to our program.

“We’ve had strong marketing and the generous support of our sponsors, which has allowed us to expand our entertainment budget and offer a more engaging experience for visitors.”

The Alstonville Show has a history dating back to 1890. It has evolved over the years, with organisers working hard to cater for new attractions such as monster trucks and motocross stunt shows, while the rodeo remains a central drawcard.

“It takes careful planning to make both the monster trucks and motorbikes work safely together in a smaller showground,” Ms Wilson said.

“But it’s well worth the effort – these attractions are always a big hit, especially with young families, and really add excitement to the event.

“A real highlight this year was the strong number of entries across nearly all sections, possibly the best we’ve seen in many years. All entries were well up compared to previous shows.”

Alstonville Agricultural Society president Merv McDonald thanked volunteers, sponsors and the community for the show’s ongoing success.

“Together, they help us create an event that truly belongs to the whole community,” he said.