Community & Business
11 June, 2026
Heavy Horses Weekend at the Woolshed
A beautiful weekend of weather greeted visitors at the Heavy Horses Festival at the Jondaryan Woolshed.
A steady stream of visitors passed through the former Oakey Bank of New South Wales building at the Jondaryan Woolshed precinct.
The weather was very pleasant with the wind having died down from earlier in the week.
One of the main highlights of the day was the Marlie Draught Horse Stud Team - 11 horses pulling a 10-tonne wagon sponsored by New Acland Mine.
Politicians were out and about, including State Members of Parliament Pat Weir, and former local David Janetzki.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald was also there with his wife Lisa, as was Councillor Carol Taylor, who will also be attending this Saturday’s Queensland Day celebrations at Oakey Historical Museum.
A week after Goomeri’s pumpkin festival, the Heavy Horses Festival had its own pumpkin-themed game of pumpkin snatch.
The Mayor tried his hand at pumpkin snatch and came away with a ribbon in an event won by Ben Sullivan and Jocelyn Cockbain with horse Bert.
The event was a timely reminder of the unique value of the Jondaryan Woolshed as Toowoomba Regional Council heads towards debating its ownership model later this year.
Jondaryan Woolshed Manager Ian Jempson’s contract runs out at the time of the next management review which is scheduled to be held in November this year.
At the time of the last review, Cr Bill Cahill said he believed that Council should seriously consider offloading the facility, which costs Council $570,000 in annual operating expenditure.
While it’s understood that most Councillors have no major problems with the current operating model, the political question over whether local government should be responsible for maintaining heritage assets will doubtless come up again in November.
A Regional Economic Impact Assessment of the Jondaryan Woolshed prepared for Council in 2023 showed a positive return on investment by Council to underpin the success of site operations and assets irrespective of the future management model chosen.
The 2023 REIA suggested that an independent not-for-profit charitable model as the best path forward for the Woolshed.
HEAVY HORSES WEEKEND RESULTS
Registered Clydesdales
L01 Horse under 3 years (colt, filly or gelding)
Coolibah Ridge Clydesdales with Coolibah Ridge Elanor
L02 Mare 3 years & over
Azaylia Carr with Duneske Flash Beauty
L03 Stallion 3 years & over
Hannah Willshire with Earlsfield King Of The Castle
L04 Gelding 3 years & over
Chelsea Smidt with Duneske Discovery
Champion Clydesdale:
Azaylia Carr with Duneske Flash Beauty
Registered Percherons
Champion Percheron:
Bruce Rowbotham with Kamilaroi Theodore
Registered Shires
L09 Horse under 3 years (colt, filly or gelding)
Natalie McHugh with Drayhorse Isabelle
L12 Gelding 3 years & over
Natalie McHugh with Belleview Ashford
Champion Shire:
Natalie McHugh with Belleview Ashford
Draught Horses
L14 Mare 3 years & over
Amy White with Bloss
L15 Stallion 3 years & over
Trevor Kohler with LPE Gator (imp.)
L16 Gelding 3 years & over
Gary Kirchner with Duke
Champion Draught Horse:
Amy White with Bloss
Junior Led
Orla Willshire with Carseldine Stargazer
Working Events
W01 Slide Obstacle Course – Single horse
Kain Loof with Spencer
W02 Slide Obstacle Course – Pair of horses
Kain Loof with Spencer & Joe
W03 Long Rein Obstacle Course – Single horse
Natasha McColl with Bloss
W04 Long Rein Obstacle course – Pair of horses
Ben Sullivan with Bert & Barney
W05 Log Snigging Obstacle Course – Single horse
Kain Loof with Spencer
W06 Log Snigging Obstacle Course – Pair of horses
Dave Martin with Dave’s Pair
W07 Heavy Horse under saddle obstacle course
Azaylia Carr with Duneske Flash Beauty
W08 2 person Woolshed Challenge
Kain Loof with Loof
W09 2 person Wool Bale Stack
Amy White & Natasha McColl with Bloss
W10 Pumpkin Snatch
Ben Sullivan & Jocelyn Cockbain with Bert
Harness Events
H01 Medium/Heavy Horse in harness driven in a vehicle (2 or 4 wheeled)
Gary Kirchner with Duke
H02 Medium/Heavy Horse Business or Tradesman’s Turnout (2 or 4 wheeled)
Hannah Willshire with Earlsfield King Of The Castle
H03 Medium/Heavy pair or multiples in harness
Trevor Kohler with Danielle & Nikita Lorry
H04 Medium/Heavy pair or multiples business or Tradesman’s Turnout
Trevor Kohler with Danielle & Nikita Lorry
H05 Lady Driver/Gentleman Driver (single or pair of horses)
Gentleman Driver:
Gary Kirchner with Duke
Lady Driver:
Tammy Rhoades with Carbery Estate Danielle
Ridden Events
R01 Rider 17 years & under
Azaylia Carr with Duneske Flash Beauty
R02 Rider 18 years & over
Hannah Willshire with Earlsfield King Of The Castle
R03 Barrell Race under 18 years
Azaylia Carr with Duneske Flash Beauty
R04 Barrell Race over 18 years
Vanessa Kirchner with Duke
Ploughing Events
P01 Single horse mouldboard plough
Ben Sullivan with Bert
P02 2 person mouldboard plough – single horse
Dave Martin with Grace
P03 Pair of horses & mouldboard plough
Dave Martin with Grace & Jade
P04 2-person mouldboard plough – pair of horses
Dave Martin with Grace & Jade
P06 Soil Tilling implement workout – single/pair or multiple horses
Dave Martin with Dave’s Pair
P07 Agricultural Implement Turnout – any number of horses
Ben Sullivan with Bert & Bazil
