2016 Royal Melbourne Show

Long time and successful Melbourne Royal competitor, Michelle Paynter rode Dale Plumb's, 'DP Amazing' to take fifth place in the Garryowen.

International Flight Attendant with Qantas, Catherine Neill is used to flying high and is pictured aboard her well named, 'SLM Mercedes' during the Garryowen Memorial Turnout class.

Of all the 28 competitors, NSW barrister, Melissa Gillies seemed to enjoy the occasion most. She declared that she loved being part of the history and tradition that goes along with the Garryowen. The dressing up is like "a big girls' Barbie". Melissa was also thankful to all her helpers and the fact that her only job in getting ready, "was to stand there and keep clean; and I've almost done it".

University student, India Mitchell rode her well performed, 'Royalwood Centre Stage' to take fourth place in the Esquire and third place in the John Lithgow Turnout classes.

University student, Australian Miss Universe finalist and popular competitor, Rose McEvoy rode, 'Towering Inferno' to take fourth place in the Garryowen.

Jordan Skyring from Queensland is pictured aboard her Adelaide Royal Champion Hack, 'DP Polo'. They went on to win the Esquire Turnout class.

Laura Golding from Bega in NSW is pictured aboard her, 'KT Madrid'.

Briony Randle has been competing at Melbourne Royal for 29 years and yes she did start very young. She has grown up in the Melbourne Turnout tradition and the Garryowen is certainly on the wish list of all Victorian and many interstate girls who set foot in a show ring. Briony has had great success with the beautiful big hack, 'Entourage' and the black gelding worked a treat today. You can see that Briony is happy with the way the horse is working and Briony went on to realise one of her dreams by winning the 2016 Garryowen Memorial Turnout class.

Bec Carrolan from Maffra in Gippsland is pictured aboard her lovely Octagonal gelding, 'Optimal'.

Marketing Manager and former Garryowen winner, Rebecca Farrow rode her Thoroughbred gelding, 'Stage Presence' to third place this year.

Sarah Dempsey is following along in her late mother's footsteps and no doubt she would have been proud of Sarah's performance riding the lovely off the track mare, 'Sarven Park Tell All' that went on to take fifth place in the John Lithgow Turnout.

Garryowen first timer, Danielle James is pictured aboard the talented warmblood, 'Rangeview Majestic'.

Sherrie Lee is picture aboard her lovely, 'Tonik' that worked well. He must have continued his good form, as this combination went on to take third place in the Esquire Turnout class in which the horses must be "the bone fide property of the rider or their immediate family".

Emma Hales was one of the 28 to contest the 2016 Garryowen Turnout class and she is pictured aboard her Redoute's Choice gelding, 'Never A Doubt'.

Nineteen year old university student, Georgia Kellock is picture aboard her, 'The Russian'. They did not place in the Garryowen, but went on to take fourth pace in the John Lithgow Turnout class for Lady riders 18 -25 Years.

Everything Jess Stalling has touched at the Melbourne Royal this year has just about turned to gold. And she almost added the Garryowen title. The first time participant from Picton in NSW won the Best First Time Competitor award and took second place in the memorial Turnout class.

Rebecca Maddocks is pictured abaord her, Arabian/Warmblood, 'Symarrons Darby'.

Brittany James from Echuca was having her first ride in the Garryowen Turnout class and is pictured aboard the nine year old Arabian/Warmblood, 'Buckwell Park Chance'.

A previous Garryowen winner, Penny Ahern rode Matilda Longbottom's, 'Broadway Duntroon' to take sixth place this year.

Interior designer, Penny Greenhill has been competing at Melbourne Royal since she was two years old. The Adelaide Royal Turnout winner is pictured aboard her lovely Riding Pony, 'Kolbeach Party'.

Nurse, Carey Blzzard was having her first ride in the famous Garryowen Turnout class and is pictured aboard the ten year old Riding Pony/Thoroughbred, 'Simpson'.

First time Garryowen rider and police woman, Rebecca Phillips was one of the eight first time Garryowen riders and is pictured aboard, 'Wesswoods Mastercaste'

Young hairdresser, Ashlyn Sorraghan was a first time Garryowen rider and one that has grown up in the Melbourne Turnout tradition. Ashlyn rode her six year old Thoroughbred, 'Certainty'. Ashlyn went on to take fifth place in the Esquire.

Jennifer Turong from Canberra declared that riding in the Garryowen, "had always been a dream" and this year for the first time, Jennifer rode her, 'Academy of Arts' to realise that dream.

Jemima Draper, pictured aboard, 'Havenleigh Park Furst Knight' went on to take sixth place in the John Lithgow Turnout for Riders 18-25.

Caitlyn Hulme rode the Warmblood mare, 'Larundel Geisha' to take second place in the Esquire Turnout.

The special guests are seated, the stewards are ready and the entrants lined up ready for the Garryowen presentation ceremony. The rain thankfully held off for the class and all got home dry.

Briony Randle shows what it looks like to realise a dream; one that is held by most Victorian girls in to showing. She is pictured aboard her own, Warren Coyle and Howard Morris' winning ride, 'Entourage' that came from international showjumpers Michelle and Peter Mc Mahon in Queensland.

Regular Melbourne Royal competitor, Fiona McIntyre is pictured aboard her successful ex racehorse, 'Sirmione' that won nearly two million dollars on the track. The lovely horse has now settled in to life as a successful show horse.

Stephanie O'Connor from Seaforth in NSW rode her well performed hack, 'Supreme' to win the John Lithgow Turnout class for Lady Riders 18-25 Years.