The Sydney Royal Easter Show

Just for fun - the country massive produce exhibition appeared to be a bit smaller this year - possibly because of all the floods experienced in the north of the State? Anyway, this is a single image, copied, then pasted back into the same file and the canvas was extended to accommodate this panoramic version.

Close up portrait of a white Finnish Lapphund

Finnish Lapphund - This was pretty much towards the end of the show, so there were just a few competitors left in the canine section left to strut their stuff.
Here the owner gives her prize pooch a final, and careful, last minute groom... 

I liked the subject contrast in this shot - of the owner's tattooed calf and her immaculate Xolo (Xoloitzcuintle = a Mexican hairless dog)

The dog obedience demonstration is always good value - although on the day we went it was piddling down with rain - the dogs were undercover, but the audience was not! Here are two different pooches belting through the pole fence. 

Last minute makeup from Mum.
This is a Portugese Podengo, apparently the national dog of that country.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens).

We must have missed the entrants for the Bitch Challenge. Must have been quite a contest! (Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Axman and his trainer (maybe?)

These competition axes are all very carefully checked and weighed before any match to ensure everyone is on a level footing - as you can guess from seeing the splinters in this shot - they are also insanely sharp. 

WA versus NSW. In this heat, the latter won.

Even though it's obvious that another axeman might have already won the heat, all the contestants still go on to finish the job.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

For me this has to be one of the most dangerous events - you have to stand/balance on the two foot wide log while you chop it in two with a very sharp axe...

Extreme close up of a Silky (breed of chook).
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

The chook exhibition featured hundreds of birds in all shapes, sizes, colours, and breeds. The noise inside the hall was significant!

One of the many Guinea Fowl on show.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Still looking quite sprightly even after more than a week of the Show.
(Pics by Natalie Hitchens)

A couple more exhibits from the poultry exhibition - turkey and pigeon.
(Pics by Natalie Hitchens)

Another snap of one of the Silkies on show

Now I have seen it all - of the many demonstrations at the show, this was the funniest - how to wash and dry a chook's feathers with a hair dryer.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Alpacas are very popular at the Royal Easter Show
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Another potential winner getting a last minute trim before heading into the ring.

One of the alapaca event officials

Possibly not as popular as Alpacas, the cows and bull exhibits featured really impressively presented animals.

A large porker sleeping off lunch
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

All you had to do was mutter the words "mint jelly" under your breath to get their immediate attention

I had forgotten that the Royal Easter Show is not just about the animals - it also features a huge range of other activities submitted by country communities.
Here are two amazing examples of what you can do with a bag of sugar and some food colouring!

One of the prize winners form a hat making contest.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

And of course the CWA (Country Women's Association) is always very active in a range of activities, including of course, baking.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Another sugary model.
(Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

Cake, and more cake

Some more sugary stuff (I was getting a bit hungry looking at all this food)

Another great little tableau, with a distinctly local flavour (but still made from sugar), (Pic by Natalie Hitchens)

A few of the happy looking cows in the cattle section