KIDS rifled through showbags, mothers watched the entertainments, adults screamed on the Hurricane, salty fingers picked at potato tornadoes and the dogs pranced around the ring. There was not a sad face to be seen.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Welcome to the third and final day of the 2015 Royal Launceston Show.
For some it was a day of firsts, like Ollie Crowe, 10, who went on a showride for the first time.
For others it was another enjoyable day at work – like Nathan Mansell, of Hobart, who has been manning show vans for almost 20 years.
For patrons like Neisha Beames, 11, of Waverley, Chloe Fazackerley, 12, of Kings Meadows and Tayla Foon, 12, of Waverley, it was a day of choices – how to spend their money well, for instance, and which showbags to take home.
The excited girls had each carefully chosen their showbags for the big ticket items, such as the watermelon school bag in Girls Rule, the speakers in The Original Idiot Bag and the fluffy giraffe in Gag Magic Sampler.
‘‘It has been really fun,’’ Neisha said.
‘‘I nearly had a heart attack on one of the rides – the Lethal Weapon – and had to go on it by myself.’’
Over in the cat pavilion, a much quieter atmosphere prevailed.
Despite having just won best cat in show, Sumo the British shorthair, whose show name is Kaloofa Last Hurrah, slept soundly in his cage.
His owner Sally Tonks, of Evandale, said Sumo’s win will put him in the running for cat of the year.
‘‘He is absolutely gorgeous, like a big cuddly teddy bear. This is relax time for him now,’’ said Ms Tonks, who is the proud owner of 14 cats.
‘‘Cat-showing is my hobby.
‘‘It is just so lovely to come here see the people, look at other breeds and catch up with all the judges.’’
By the close of play on Saturday, organisers estimated that the three-day event had attracted in excess of 20,000 people through the gates.