48
AQHA FEATURE: 2026 THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER BUSH FESTIVAL
THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER BUSH FESTIVAL
CORRYONG, VICTORIA | 16-19 APRIL 2026
WORDS BY: SARAH ROWSON- MFSR BUSH FESTIVAL © 2026 D PHOTOS BY: STEPHEN MOWBRAY / EMMA BOLAND PHOTOGRAPHY / SHARLEEN PHILLIPS
THE 2026 MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER BUSH FESTIVAL STOCKMANS CHALLENGE DELIVERED ANOTHER UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND OF HIGH COUNTRY HORSEMANSHIP AT CORRYONG, VICTORIA. EIGHTY COMPETITORS ACROSS FOUR CATEGORIES TESTED THEIR SKILLS ACROSS A DEMANDING RANGE OF BUSH DISCIPLINES- FROM STOCK HANDLING AND HORSE SHOEING TO BAREBACK OBSTACLE, PACK HORSE, WHIP CRACK, WILD HORSE CATCH, AND MORE. WHEN THE DUST SETTLED AND THE FINALS SCORES WERE TALLIED, NEW CHAMPIONS WERE CROWNED IN EVERY DIVISION.
OPEN CHALLENGE FINAL
The Open Final- the blue-ribbon event of the weekend, included two additional disciplines beyond the qualifying rounds: the Wild Horse Catch and the Buck Jump, making it the ultimate test of an all-round stockman.
In one of the day ' s most dramatic reversals, Daryl Baines( Banjo), who had placed third in the overall qualifying standings, surged to take the Open title with a commanding 782 points. His winning margin came down to a superb combination of a near-perfect Pack Horse( 99), strong Horse Shoeing( 89), and crucially, solid scores in both the Wild Horse Catch( 74) and the Buck Jump( 71)- disciplines that tripped up several of his rivals.
Morgan Webb( Dolgwili Norman), the overall qualifying leader, finished runner-up in the Open Final on 768 points. Morgan posted the highest Cut Out score of any Open finalist( 171), and topped the Wild Horse Catch with 85 points, but a zero in the Buck Jump ultimately cost him the title.
Travis Bandy( Hazelwood Weapon) rounded out the Open podium in third with 740 points, putting together one of the most consistent finals performances of the day, including 78 in the Buck Jump.
Place |
Rider |
Horse |
Total |
1 |
Daryl Baines |
Banjo |
782 |
2 |
Morgan Webb |
Dolgwili Norman |
768 |
3 |
Travis Bandy |
Hazelwood Weapon |
740 |
4 |
Lachie Sim |
Enchanted Acres |
731 |
5 |
David Mitchell |
Stoneage Jay( JW) |
720 |
6 |
Kieran Davidson |
Edenvale Orion |
714 |
7 |
Matt Maliki |
Palmers Super Idea |
712 |
8 |
Mick Green |
Hardrock Dremlover |
711 |
9 |
Rhys Angland |
Binnia Verina |
673 |
10 |
Darren Towns |
Contractor |
622 |
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au