Kotupna horseman Noel Wiltshire paraded a unique mule team at the Barellan Good Old Days Festival, and came home with a trophy.

Noel was awarded the Little Teamsters Trophy for his mule team and wagon, which was presented as a fellmonger’s skin and hide outfit.

Noel had three mules in the team – Willy Wonka, Christen and Molly – with the fourth, 11-year-old Shamus, owned by Anita Bransden, while Linda Smith helped as the groom.

He also presented a masterclass on driving mules in harness, and spoke on packing and driving mules in the Teamsters Q & A.

Anita travelled from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia to Kotupna three times so the team could practice together.

In the lead up to Barellan, Noel had contributed some harnesses and a mountain of new chain for the record-breaking horse team.

In 2026, the bullock teams will compete for the Teamsters Trophy and goats for the Little Teamsters Trophy

Lake Cargelligo draught horse breeder Steve Johnson received the coveted Teamsters Trophy.

Steve, 75, and his wife Jan, had prepared a team of 12 horses from their Larne Draught Horse stud for the Barellan team and Steve drove the team along with Bruce Bandy and Aleks Berzins.

The couple spent six months on the road for three hours a day preparing their young horses for the record attempt.

During the festival on October 3 to 5 at Barellan, Steve also demonstrated a horse-drawn chaff cutter using sheaf hay, and spoke about driving horse teams at the Teamsters Q & A.

The scale model Bennett wagon trophy was made by Allan Langfield, from Wagga Wagga, and is competed for annually by a different species of large draught animal each year. A draught team consists of four or more animals.

The animals, harness, vehicles/implements are to be historically correct and judged as a traditional authentic Australia style working team, portraying the business or work the teamster is engaged in.

The animals, harness and vehicles are to be in a safe and sound working condition (not a show turnout).

The ability of the teamster to control the team and the response of the animals to commands will be part of the general assessment.

Steve Johnson grew up with a drover living next door and became good mates with the drover’s son.

Invited on a droving trip, he was mesmerised by the travelling on the horse-drawn drover’s wagon.

“My Dad wouldn’t let me own a horse. That was never going to happen,” he said.

“When I got old enough to make my own decisions, we bought our first horse 50 years ago and since then we have never looked back — it has become a passion.

“My wife Jan and I have worked together for the last 50 years, travelling all around the countryside with our horses.

“When we set off to travel with our horses, we go out the top gate without any support vehicles.

“I am passionate about my horses and just love working with them.”

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Friday, 17th December 2027

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