Show attendance breaks record

MORE than 20,000 people made their way through the gates to the Ipswich Show, breaking the record attendance set last year.

QT general manager Steve Portas wins the first heat of the camel race at the Ipswich Show, closely followed by Daniel Thomas (aka DT) of River 94.9. Picture: David Nielsen & Claudia Baxter

MORE than 20,000 people made their way through the gates to the Ipswich Show, breaking the record attendance set last year.

The weekend saw the biggest Ipswich Show ever with more rides, more pavilion and ring entries, more entertainment and more patrons than ever before.

The huge turnout comes despite rail transport being shut down for the weekend by Queensland Rail.

Ipswich Show Society president Marcia Cruickshank said the show had been a great success.

"The whole event has been really, really good," she said.

"Our figures are just that bit higher than last year, which we expected because we put more on this year than before.

"We've had easily 20,000 and we might even have a bit more than that.

"If the rail lines were running, we probably would have had even more."

While record crowds made their way to the show on Friday and Saturday, Mrs Cruickshank said they were expecting to crack the record throughout the day on Sunday.

"We've still got some great entertainment on today," she said.

"It's been a real family fun day and we've had a great crowd.

"There are the Alvin and Chipmunks shows for the kids which have been really popular."

The demolition derby, camel races and fireworks had been hugely popular, drawing people to the show each night.

Originally published as Show attendance breaks record