While youngsters hyped themselves up with sugary treats, others braved blistering speeds of sideshow alley rides.
Equestrians flaunted their talents in the main arena, farmers paraded their best livestock adjacently, and in the Nicholls Pavillion, creativity and skill were showcased in one of the most extraordinary displays in Sale Show’s history.
Hallways transformed into effervescent kaleidoscopic tunnels as children’s crafty creations cascaded the walls, colour coruscating under the humming lights above.
Intricacy impressed as onlookers observed this year’s fibre arts.
Knitting, crocheting, quilting, macramé, and weaving entries flaunted ornate handiwork.
Walls bestrewn with captured moments, frozen in time forever, commanded attention.
Colourless images of faces, old and young, told stories of lives lived and not yet lived. Mother Nature’s immense beauty seeped through images of scintillating sunsets and iridescent flora and fauna.
Lily Bernau’s marinal image was awarded Best Print in Show — the reflective, rippled ocean, setting sun and horizon of water vessels emitting a captivating tranquillity.
Best Junior Print in Show was awarded to Archie Sanders, the budding shutterbug capturing a glorious, glowing, rusted amber Ayers Rock: a dappled clouded sky and a creeping shadowed ground made for an ominous beauty.
Hannah Fairweather’s pencil charcoal drawing depicting a woman releasing her breath underwater was awarded the Sale Show Champion Exhibit in Art Section and the Sale Show Caroline Darby Memorial Art Prize.
There may have been no paintings or drawings or knitting or photographs cladding the walls, but creativity and skill remained rampant at the opposite end of Nicholls Pavillion, with floristry, horticulture and culinary excellence exhibited.
Forget Coco Chanel and Guccio Gucci; Sale might just be fostering the next fashion icon.
Local primary school students channelled their inner Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, fusing texture and colour for the perfect outfit, vying for the title of best-dressed carrot at the Show.
The Best Dressed Carrot competition has become one of Sale Show’s most highly anticipated events among the region’s youth, with entries growing annually.
Carrots sported myriad styles with 80s and 90s fashion influences among trending themes.
Alice Dowse won first prize in the Prep to Grade 2 2023 Sale Show Best Dressed Carrot competition, with Arlo Bouffloux taking out second place and Cassidy Henry third.
First prize in the Grade 3 to 4 Best Dressed Carrot competition was awarded to Harper Bicknell, with Jemma Burley’s design awarded second place and Poppy Duthart third.
Lara Holdcroft was the Grade 5-6 Best Dressed Carrot competition winner, with Edward Ronchi and Emme Camm designs earning second and third place, respectively.
The region’s best carrot cake makers were recognised in the 21st Sale Show National Carrot Cake Competition.
Archie Sanders won first place in the National Carrot Cake Competition Grade 5 to 6 Students category, with Emily Edgley’s sweet treat earning second place and Jade Mckerrow third.
Tori McKerrow was the National Carrot Cake Competition Secondary Students winner, with Ryan Parkinson placing second and Kobe Parsons third.
Helena Palmer was the National Carrot Cake Competition Professional winner, with Brooke Gold’s cake coming in second and Antionette Demaria third.
The National Carrot Cake Competition Open winner was Jenny Langshaw, with Sandra Webber earning second and Anne Flemming placing third.
Next door, green thumbs and horticulturist flouted their biggest, best and brightest.
Irene Askew was a frequent name on winning place cards.
Ms Askew’s collection of miniature roses, container of assorted David Austin roses, collection of snapdragons, six pansies, six violas, three perennials, collection of pink to mauve flowers and geraniums were among the green thumb’s winning entries.
Ms Askew won the Sale Show Champion Entry in the Vegetable Section, and her stunning yellow rose was crowned Best Rose of the Show.
Toni Bennett won Sale Show Champion Exhibit of Flowers, and Gary Thomas Butlet was awarded Best Orchid in Show.
Jocelyn Harper was awarded the Brenda Hedges Memorial Trophy for her winning novice floral art and traditional mass design.
Betty Clissold won Champion Bloom Open Flowers, and Gary Thomas Butler won Champion Bloom Novice Flowers.
Susan Hadden was awarded Champion Fruit Exhibit, with Vicki Malady earning first prize in Open Floral Art “From the Veggie Garden”.
The Intermediate Aggregate Perpetual Trophy was awarded to Marnie Ford for her winning Intermediate Floral Art.
Heather Harrington won The Most Outstanding Arrangement in Floral Art, taking home the Catherine Wisely Perpetual Trophy and sash.
Donna Marcius was awarded Best Exhibit of Creative Floral Art, winning the Carrie Fox Memorial Trophy and sash.
After one of the most extraordinary displays of creativity and skill in Sale Show’s history, one can only imagine what next year will bring.
