RASV yet to make a call on an exhibitor-only show

The RASV said it was continuing to explore opportunities for a smaller country show in regional Victoria after it cancelled the Royal Melbourne Show for a second consecutive year late last month.

Related: Beef cattle show could go ahead in regional Victoria this year

RASV chief executive Brad Jenkins said the society was looking into a number of options to conduct an alternate COVID-safe competition later in the year.

"We continue to monitor COVID restrictions and the lockdown extension in metropolitan Melbourne announced ... has delayed any decision to hold agricultural competitions in 2021 at Melbourne Showgrounds or regional Victoria," Mr Jenkins said.

"We remain hopeful that we will be better placed to provide an update next week".

It comes as the RASV's Beef Cattle Committee chair, David Bolton, called for an exhibitor-only show to be scheduled at either Bendigo or Tatura.

"We hope it could be backed by the RASV with no public and exhibitors only," Mr Bolton said at the time.

The plan to move the show to the regions would mean potentially fewer restrictions and lockdowns, unlike metropolitan which has entered its second week of its sixth lockdown.

The RASV Sheep Committee said it was also exploring possible alternatives, but appeared more hesitant to hold a show in regional Victoria unlike their beef counterparts.

A decision on whether an exhibitor-only show will go ahead is expected this week.