Community & Business
19 February, 2026
The Show Came to Town
Over the weekend the Clifton Show was on and despite a bit of wet weather, plenty of people got down and enjoyed themselves at this year’s presentation of the district’s best.
The Clifton Show went ahead at the weekend despite a dreary weather front putting a dampener on things.
Showjumping and the Sunday horse events were sadly cancelled as the ground was too muddy for the horses, but just about everything else went ahead.
A steady bit of rain on Saturday made sure that the pavilion was the place to be.
Row upon row of what’s been grown and created in Clifton sat beneath the hall’s golden lights.
Chatter filled the pavilion as winners, competitors, friends, families and those who came to see the show meandered their way through the stalls and tables.
Show President Haydn O’Leary said the rain had a bit of an impact on the turnout.
“Unfortunately the rain came at the wrong time on the Saturday afternoon and knocked the crowd around to about a quarter of what we would normally have,” he said.
The Gowrie Gals serenaded those trying to stay dry, either in the pavilion, or out undercover by the canteen.
The utes were adorned with flags which proudly fluttered in the grey, wet, wind.
Drizabones, oilskins, hats and raincoats were out and on.
Boots weathered the puddles that formed about the ground.
But despite the mopey weather, the show went on.
Secretary of the Show Society Adele Saville wanted to thank everyone for coming out.
“The Show Society would like to thank everyone who came out despite the inclement weather and supported the show,” she said.
So did Mr O’Leary:
“It was great to have the support of so many people who attended and made the most of it in the ordinary conditions.” Mr O’Leary said.
Dogs, sheep, and cattle were still judged.
Sheepdog trials were held each morning.
Kaycee Walden and Isabelle Walden-Brown took out the top spots in the sheepdog open divisions.
Kerry Chant took out Champion of the Show for her beautiful, impressionist, landscape painting.
In the Cattle ring, the top award went to the Branchview Charolais Stud from Dalby.
Outback Showman Lachie Cossar was out and about on Friday night, straddling the streets on his great Brahman heifer, accompanied by assistant Tom Brown.
They were busking in the local pubs and introducing themselves to the locals.
Both of them performed for the show crowd on Saturday evening.
Showmen through and through, Lachie made the most of the dreary conditions, taking the crowd through what it takes to be a stockman by way of humour and a bit of chaos.
From standing on the back of a horse, to rounding up geese with a young local, Lachie’s outback stockman show was great entertainment.
“We were happy with how everything went despite the rain,” Mrs Saville said.
“In fact I think it was one of the better pavilions we’ve had in many, many years.”
She did however remark that it was a shame how much of Sunday’s events were called off.
Brian Gillam and Trevor Fowkes were awarded Life Memberships of the Show Society.
The Dachshund Dash was a riveting competition of speed, power, agility and teamwork.
The popular feature went ahead despite earlier concerns from some that Dachshunds could get lost in any puddles that might be on the course.
Sideshow alley wasn’t entirely rained out, and offered up plenty of dagwood dogs and thrills to go around.
The Battle of the Brains was one of the most popular events.
The crowd of supporters huddled under the marquee, avoiding the rain.
Over five rounds, four schools from the district battled it out in trivia.
In the end Nobby State School took home No. 1 and the $500 prize donated to the Battle winner by Clifton Landcare.
The cross-cut saw event was also a popular attraction.
We saw teams of couples, father-son teams, mates all going at it on either end of the saw.
We even saw some of the younger competitors, two mates, going up against a each of their sisters in an opposing pair.
The boys fell short.
But all in all, there were smiles on faces, maybe even a bit of tomato sauce as well.
Families were together, adults enjoying the time strolling around the grounds, bumping into friends, while kids ran about excitedly, clutching whatever goodies they’d pulled from their showbags.
The weather cleared enough for Lachie’s final act of the evening and for the fireworks to pop off and pull the curtain on what was another Clifton Show.
