Roses are red, cows go moo

ROSE WONDERLAND: Over 200 roses were on display in Rymill Hall at the Penola Show over the weekend. Picture: TODD LEWIS
ROSE WONDERLAND: Over 200 roses were on display in Rymill Hall at the Penola Show over the weekend. Picture: TODD LEWIS

A RANGE of entertainment was on offer to the community over the two days of the 153rd Penola Show, but it was the cattle and roses that attracted the most interest.

PICTURE PERFECT: George and Linda Thompson’s grand champion rose. Picture: TODD LEWIS

Judged on Friday night, dozens of people gathered at the cattle ring to view several quality bulls and heifers from across the region and over the border.

Penola Pastoral Agriculture and Horticulture Society show committee secretary Kathy Fennell said they were blown away by the quality of the stock on show.

“We had record entries in the cattle section this year, with over 76 bulls and heifers paraded in the ring,” Ms Fennell said.

“They were very good quality stock, which created for stiff competition and difficult judging.”

Ms Fennell said it was pleasing to see the cattle come from far and wide this year.

“We had stock come from as far as Loxton and then there was a selection of cattle from over the border too,” she said.

Unfortunately, the final of the cattle section was unable to enter the main arena like previous years due to a threatening thunderstorm, however Young Rural Ambassador Bentley Galpin said the section was still a success overall.

“The weather held up in the end, which was good to see and there were plenty of people there showing support for the cattle section,” Bentley said.

Next door in the Rymill building, members of the public were taking in the aroma of hundreds of roses.

Ms Fennell said rose entries increased compared to last year, with more than 200 on display in the adult section alone.

“Once again the rose building was a big hit and it was great for the judges to have such a wide range to choose from,” Ms Fennell said.

The grand champion rose award went to George and Linda Thompson, who were described as deserving winners.

The runner-up rose title was awarded to Penola Primary School.