THE Bennison Recreation Reserve will be the venue for the 2023 Foster Show’s horse and pony classes on Saturday February 25, 2023.
Continuing works to install irrigation and new turf on the oval at the Foster Showgrounds has prompted the Foster and District Agricultural Society Inc. to relocate the perennially popular equestrian events just for this year’s Show.
The Society’s chief ring steward Julie Nicoll said the Bennison Reserve is the home of the Corner Inlet Pony Club and the Bennison Adult Riding Club, and so is already ideally set up to host the majority of the Foster Show horse competitions.
“Rings One and Two will begin at 8.30 am on Show Day for the open led and ridden classes; while the showjumping will take place on the arena,” she said.
“Our Topsy Ring, and the Pony Club and Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria (HRCAV) events will be starting at about 1 pm.
“The only equine section that will not be held as part of the 2023 Foster Show includes all of the harness classes, though they will be returning in 2024,” Mrs Nicoll said.
“The Bennison Recreation Reserve is located on the corner of O’Sullivans Road and the Port Franklin Road, and is well signposted from the South Gippsland Highway, and from the Lower Franklin Road with Corner Inlet Pony Club fingerboards.
“We ask competitors with horse floats to enter the Reserve through the gate at 311 Port Franklin Road, with our judges and stewards, as well as spectators, invited to use the gate at 5 O’Sullivans Road,” she said.
“Catering will be available at the Bennison Reserve on Show Day, thanks to the committee and members of the Corner Inlet Pony Club, who are happy to welcome those horse people who may have never visited their grounds before.”
Mrs Nicoll said entries for the 2023 Foster Show can be lodged online via the Society’s website at www.fostershow.com/horses
“Hard copy entries may be dropped in at Foster FoodWorks Supermarket at 37 Main Street, or to Paragreen Real Estate at 52 Main Street in Foster, or posted to the Foster and District Agricultural Society, PO Box 150, Foster Victoria 3960,” she said.
“Late entries will also be accepted on Show Day itself, and any entry fees paid at Bennison will allow entry to the Foster Showgrounds on Show Day, too.”
Agricultural Society secretary Denia Gilheany said, “a fair few entries for the horse and pony events have come in so far, with a lot more expected during this coming week, with online entries closing on Thursday February 23.
“We’ve also had a number of calls and emails from people making sure about the temporary change of venue from the Showgrounds to the Bennison Recreation Reserve for this year’s Foster Show,” she said.
“The works on the oval at the Foster Showgrounds were originally supposed to be finished in time for the Foster Show, but they have been delayed by bad weather and supply problems, so the decision was made to move the horses to Bennison.
“There has been quite a deal of interest from people with young and green horses, who like the idea of introducing them to the world of showing at the Bennison Reserve where there won’t be any rides and noisy stuff,” Mrs Gilheany said.
“The 2023 Foster Show will of course be a little different without the horses there on the day, but next year the Foster Showgrounds will look glorious, with all of the Show’s traditional events back in the one place.”
For more information about the 115th Foster and District Agricultural Show 2023see www.fostershow.com
• Foster and District Agricultural Society Inc. life member and Foster Show chief ring steward Julie Nicoll is pictured with Tracey Josephs and her former racehorse Thoroughbred, the 17.2-hand Hue (short for Huge!) at the Corner Inlet Pony Club grounds on the Bennison Recreation Reserve, where the 2023 Foster Show’s horse and pony events will be held on Saturday February 25.
Foster.vic.au feed
Discussion
Comments are disallowed for this post.
Comments are closed.