More than 50,000 showgoers flock to the showgrounds for the final weekend of the Royal Adelaide Show

More than 50,000 showgoers flocked to the showgrounds on Saturday for the final weekend of the Royal Adelaide Show, making it the biggest crowd for the nine-day event.

More than 50,000 people attended the second last day of the Royal Adelaide Show on Saturday, making it the biggest crowd for the nine-day event.

Royal Adelaide Show chief executive Will Rayner the last weekend was “traditionally our busiest” and the good weather over the past two days had brought out a “bumper crowd.”

Despite not reaching last year’s record-breaking levels, Mr Rayner said he was pleased attendance had returned to pre-Covid numbers.

The most popular showbag this year was The Matildas bag, selling out several times throughout the show thanks the team’s history-making semi-final appearance during the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“The Matildas have sold out a few times and the showbag operators have had to reach out to their warehouse so they can restock and meet the huge demand,” Mr Rayner said.

More than 50,000 people attended the second last day of the Royal Adelaide Show on Saturday. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Bluey was a smash-hit this year with the high demand for the Bluey Live Interactive Experience prompting organisers to add two extra shows earlier this week.

“We were blown away by the response to Bluey, so being able to put on two extra shows so more families could enjoy the performance was very special,” Mr Rayner said.

“Bluey has been really popular with many families going to see the live show and then coming over to the Showbag Pavilion to buy the bag as well.”

Mr Rayner was also pleased “competitions returned in great strength, with a big surge in entries from junior competitors and schools”.

Elsie Johnson, 16, from Peake, won the ‘Most Outstanding Junior Cookery Exhibit’ for the second time with her jubilee cake. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Elsie Johnson, 16, from Peake, regularly competes in the junior cookery contests.

This year, Elsie won the ‘Most Outstanding Junior Cookery Exhibit’ for the second time with her jubilee cake.

Elsie said she enjoyed spending time with friends and family.

“I love coming to the show and have made new friends through the comps and also been able to catch up with people I’ve met in previous years,” she said.

“The community is really great and it wasn’t until this year that I really noticed how many people I meet at shows and connect with.”

Parking was at a premium over the nine days with nearby businesses cashing in by selling car spaces throughout the event.

Hotel and restaurant supplies business, Ecotel, increased parking prices for showgoers for the final two days of the event.

Ecotel charged showgoers $50 a day, up $10 from its weekday price.

Ecotel had previously been advertising parking for $30 before 9am, increasing to $40 for vehicles arriving after 9am during the show.

An Ecotel spokesman told The Sunday Mail the business planned to donate the parking proceeds to “multiple charities,” after wage costs had been calculated.

Parking at Park 21W and 22 was reopened for the show’s final weekend after heavy rain overnight Wednesday forced Royal Adelaide Show organisers to close parkland parking.

Official parking sites like the parklands remained considerably cheaper than other parking options in the area at $15.

Parking is no longer available at the Netball SA Stadium Mile End but free coach transfers are still operating regularly from the multi-story carpark located on 33 Richmond Rd from 7am-10pm.

Winners at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show

Most successful woodcutting Female Competitor Takiah Moore-Barrett at the Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Most Successful Female Competitor (woodcutting) – Takiah Moore-Barrett

Fourth-generation woodcutter and reigning Royal Adelaide Show woodchopping champ, Takiah Moore-Barrett, 22, and her family drove four days from their home state, Queensland, to defend her title.

Ms Moore-Barett gave her competitors a 42-second handicap but reigned supreme, taking out the title of Most Successful Female Competitor for the third-year in a row.

“It’s a great feeling to take out the title again and to have my dad there and see his face light up, it’s the best feeling in the world,” she said.

Best Bakery at Show winners CJs Bakery. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Best Bakery – CJs Bakery

CJs Bakery was the best bakery in show with their famous vanilla slices, sausage rolls and pasties each placing first respectively.

Owners, Kerrie and Andrew Sutton, were thrilled at the result, especially winning best pasties for the first time.

“It’s the first time at the show that we’ve ever won for our pasty, we’ve had many seconds and thirds but no first places over the years so it was pretty special,” said Ms Sutton.

Olivia Baker, 16, with her Bull “Told you so” at the Royal Adelaide Show. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Supreme Champion Exhibit Simmental Bull – “Told you so” and Olivia Baker

Olivia Baker, 16, and her family’s Simmental bull won the Supreme Champion Exhibit and were also awarded the titles of Junior Champion Simmental Bull and best bull 16 months and under 18 months old.

“We’ve done a lot of competitions this year so it was really good to win and I’m really proud,” she said.

Olivia and her family travelled to Adelaide from Furner to compete and are heading to Melbourne later this month to compete in the Melbourne Royal Show.

Best Horse in Show – Kalmina Quick Hit & Kate Halliday

Warmblood stallion and national champion, Kalmina Quick Hit, came out on top at his first royal show, placing first in the Matthew Hill-Smith Best in Show award.

Roseworthy based owner and trainer, Kate Halliday, 39, was thrilled to take out a local title.

“It’s very special and means a lot especially being in Adelaide because it’s our hometown,”

“There was a lot of strong competition and some really nice horses out there so we’re very fortunate to win.”