Competition winners head to next round

AFTER three years of agricultural show cancellations due to COVID and flooding, last Saturday’s micro art and craft competition at Heathcote Showground was a chance for locals to make a bid for this year’s statewide contest.

Chief steward Marj Harris said winners would progress through to group finals, and group winners would then compete at the Royal Melbourne Show in September.

“I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t get more entries, but every show society has been down because of COVID and the floods,” she said.

“We haven’t had a show for three years and we’re hoping to have one this year all being well.”

A fleece competition and delayed yard dog trials completed the action on Saturday.

Victorian Yard Utility Farm Dog Association committee member Dave Walsh said the trials were originally scheduled for last year’s Heathcote Show.

“It’s good to be able to finally run the trial,” he said. “By running it on a neutral day when we haven’t got other trials on, we’ve got probably double the number of entries.

“We had 90-odd dogs on Saturday.”

Show society president Alan Harris said it was unfortunate that recent shows had needed to be cancelled.

“But we’ve had this day which allows people to enter the group final,” he said. “It’s good to be back after three years of absence, we’re looking forward to the spring show.”