Showgirls line up at Alstonville

LOCAL girls will have their sashes ready and shoes shined in the hope of being crowned the Alstonville Showgirl at the annual agriculture show tomorrow.

BEVY OF BEAUTIES: Five of the 11 entrants contesting this year’s Alstonville Showgirl crown are (from left) Elise Hollman, Nikki Walsh, Truleigh Wray, Laura Bettinzoli and Emily Gordon. Picture: Colin Cooksey Photography

LOCAL girls will have their sashes ready and shoes shined in the hope of being crowned the Alstonville Showgirl at the annual agriculture show tomorrow.

One of the 11 entrants will be awarded the title, along with $400, and will be a step closer to an all expenses paid trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show next year.

The Alstonville Showgirl has gone on to win two Zone One competitions over the past eight years, which is quite an achievement, Alstonville Agricultural Society showgirl co-ordinator Bob Wilson said.

“The program promotes young girls within the agriculture sector by bringing them forward at the show,” he said. “The girls will be judged by three judges on their personality, general and rural knowledge, and their interviewing skills.

“The winner then goes on to the Zone One competition, which covers Gloucester up to the Queensland border, and the winner from there then competes at the Royal Easter Show.”

The contest has a junior category for girls 12 to 17 and 11 months, and a senior category for girls 18 to 24, and has run for as long as Mr Wilson can remember.

The winner will be announced at the Alstonville Show tomorrow after the Grand Parade and official opening.

Mr Wilson said the show, which turns 121 this year, was one of the oldest in the region and continued to grow. It starts at 7am tomorrow and continues through Saturday.

“We have so much on this year and there are enormous amounts of entertainment,” he said.

“There are full ring events, full pavilions, dog shows, monster truck shows and stunt bike riding, just to mention a few.”

Originally published as Showgirls line up at Alstonville