For several years now the Wallaby Hill Extravaganza has been just the thing to kick off the Australian season in a fun way and the 2025 Bowral Kubota Wallaby Hill Extravaganza on Sunday 9th is set to provide more of the same …. and a bit extra!
While it’s not strictly an eventing competition, Wallaby Hill fans missed out on the end of season eventing last December when the Southern Highlands venue was deluged, so the Equilume Hunter Trial has been added to the Extravaganza schedule this year. Competitors will get to run across the beautiful Wallaby Hill cross country courses at 80cm, 90cm, CCN1* and CCN2* levels while the two showjumping arenas will be busy all day.
The highlight of the day is the (now world famous) Eventers vs Showjumpers class which features riders, and sometimes horses, in some fittingly ‘extravagant’ outfits. However, last year it was Shane Rose's minimalist Mankini that set the media talking and it seems set to make a return this year – being auctioned off to raise money for Movember Australia.
Rumour has it that a certain Paris 2024 Olympic medallist will be involved (and we’re not talking Michael Jung); whether he is wearing it, or simply helping auction it, remains to be seen.
This year, riders in both showjumping rings will be encouraged to wear fancy dress with EQ Saddlery giving away not only a $500 voucher to the best outfit in the Eventers vs Showjumpers class but also $500 to the best costume in Ring 2.
The action starts early in the day in the showjumping rings, the cross country starts at 10:30am and, most importantly, the bar opens at 11am when the VIP Picnic Hampers will start to be delivered on the Arena 1 Viewing Area.
We’ll be filming all competitors on cross country but make no mistake, we’ll be back arena-side for the Eventers vs Showjumpers to check out all the action and outfits!
