ROYAL Adelaide Show regulars from across the Limestone Coast have expressed disappointment and understanding at the annual major event’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 health risk.
Among the region’s groups that regularly feature at the 10-day event include the Mount Gambier and District Kennel Club, which had 10 members planning to enter the September showcase.
Club president Lyn Harris-Walker said with the cancellation and no others shows in sight until October at the earliest, potential entrants will now have time to develop their young puppies but the long lay-off may hinder their progress.
“We have not had a show on since Naracoorte in February which is concerning for the puppies as the owners use these shows as a socialisation training technique,” Ms Harris-Walker explained.
“We are now expecting to have a whole generation of puppies come through with minimal socialisation training.”
Ms Harris-Walker said although the Royal Adelaide Show cancellation was disappointing, it was the right thing to do considering the current climate.
The club has felt the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic after it was forced to cancel its annual Easter weekend dog show, an event it has held since 1979.
“We had already organised judges and flights, which now sit in credit and we only have until January to use them,” Ms Harris-Walker said.
“If we do not then we lose that money too, if our October event is also cancelled then we will have no shows until next year.”
Also feeling the impact of the metropolitan show’s cancellation is Mount Gambier show jumping competitor Kristy Bruhn.
The championship-level rider had three horses qualified for this year’s Royal Adelaide Show competition.
“There is a lot of time going into show jumping from training and travelling to other shows to qualify for Adelaide,” Ms Bruhn said.
“The competition is usually very good at the show with the best riders from all over the country travelling to compete.”
Having to compete in up to 20 different events annually to qualify for the Royal Adelaide Show, Ms Bruhn regularly travels as far as Melbourne.
“I am a very competitive person and it is really good to go somewhere such as Adelaide and do well because you know you are on the right track if you place there,” she said.
Ms Bruhn said she would focus on regional competitions with the hope that equine events may resume by November.
“Usually I would be bringing the horses in around June to prepare them for Adelaide so hopefully around that time we will be able to compete in some regional events to get them back into the swing of things,” she said.
“We have also missed out on our State Championships and the Easter show jumping event here in Mount Gambier which are some of the biggest competitions in the state.
“But we are hoping that once things lift there will be other big events we can compete in.”
