Historic Leyburn Sprints, Killarney Rodeo postponed and more cancelled amid southeast’s Covid concerns

Southeast Queensland’s recent Covid scare has forced back the two major events by several weeks and seen other huge motorsports races called off entirely for 2021.

PUSHED BACK: The Historic Leyburn Sprints have been pushed back by three weeks amid Covid concerns across the state’s southeast, leaving residents unable to travel from 11 Brisbane LGAs to regional areas. Picture: Bianca Hrovat / Warwick Daily News

Several major events lined up right across the Southern Downs this month have been postponed or cancelled entirely after the Covid scare that took hold across southeast Queensland last week.

Eleven local government areas from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and the Lockyer Valley spent most of the past week in a strict lockdown.

While Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk lifted the lockdown at 4pm Sunday, she urged residents in the impacted council groups not to travel to regional areas for another two weeks to ensure the virus remained contained.

It was these travel restrictions behind the decision to push back the 2021 Historic Leyburn Sprints from its original dates in August to September 11 and 12.

Sprints president Tricia Chant said the date change was necessary to ensure as many competitors and spectators from Brisbane and its surrounds would be able to attend.

“We are very mindful of running not only a successful event, but also a safe one, and we feel that this is the best solution for all involved,” Mrs Chant said.

“We are working as fast as we can to advise our competitors, suppliers, sponsors, supporters, and others involved in the Sprints.

“With less than two weeks to go to the original date, we were almost fully prepared and expect the rescheduled event will offer all the same great features and attractions.”

This year will be the 25th run of the Historic Leyburn Sprints, which were called off entirely last year due to Covid.

The Killarney Rodeo is typically one of the town’s biggest events each year. Photo: John Towells / Warwick Daily News

The race day was only the first major event scheduled this month to be pushed back, with the Killarney Show and Rodeo Society moving their annual rodeo from this weekend to October 16.

Complete with a full list of events from bull rides across all age groups to breakaway roping and barrel racing, the Killarney Rodeo typically draws competitors and crowds from across the state.

The ongoing lockdowns and border restrictions for NSW and Victoria have also forced the cancellation of the Shannon’s Motorsport Australia Championships and Southern Downs and Queensland Road Racing Series or “Superbikes” in Warwick.

The massive events were slated to bring spectators and competitors in their thousands to Morgan Park Raceway this month.

The Superbikes event has been locked in at Morgan Park for August 7 – 8, 2022, and the next round of the Shannon’s Nationals will be held in Victoria in September.