Tristan Lavery from Byron Bay says while equestrian events won’t be held at local shows due to the recent horse flu outbreak, dog events are a terrific substitute and fun to boot. She’s putting out a challenge for people to enter their pooch in the dog high jump and try to steal the crown from her border collie Squid, who won at four local shows last year.

Squid’s first North Coast appearance will be this Saturday, September 22, at the Nimbin Country Show, which has been stripped back to one day this year as a result of the equine influenza. Tristan says there’s classes for dogs both big and little and says the more dogs who enter, the fiercer and more fun the competition becomes.

“I’m really competitive and I used to jump horses myself, but I’ve since retired from that. I’m now living my show jumping dream vicariously through my dog!” laughed Tristan. “The high jump for bigger dogs is a bit more serious but the small dog high jump is pretty funny. Anyone can enter – you just have to be prepared to catch your dog if they fall. People put a lot of effort into these agricultural shows and the equine influenza has been quite devastating for them – now more than ever is the time to support your local show.”

The Nimbin Country Show runs from 8am to 6pm, with the dog high jump at 12.30pm. Other activities include novelty horse races using broomstick horses, the usual cattle and poultry events, whip cracking contests and gumboot throwing competitions, a children’s pet show and guinea pig pet show, an alpaca display, a home-brewing competition, pavilions brimming with local produce and crafts, plus the popular grand parade at 2pm.

Tickets to the Nimbin Country Show are $5 for adults or $2 for kids and pensioners. You’ll find the showgrounds at the end of Cecil Street, which runs off Nimbin’s main drag as you enter the village.