This year’s Mossman Show over Sunday and Monday was a roaring success, with more visitors through the gates at Coronation Park than the 2013 event. 

New events like the Eljay Freestyle motorbike riders and Noah’s Farm Pig Racing added a fresh draw to the Show while classics like art and agricultural displays from local schools and farms kept visitors coming back. 

Rides like the Hangover and Speed 2 had daredevils screaming their lungs out while Dodgem Cars and the Funhouse got the kids giggling. 

Meanwhile the baffling Anything Goes competition saw several teams put their intelligence, coordination and cooperation to the test, with a Miallo State School team eventually emerging the victor. 

Mossman Show Society secretary Ann Baldwin said the event had been pulled off without a hitch and that while total attendance numbers were still being calculated it was clear that more people had come through the gates on Sunday than last year. 

“We’re still working out exactly how many we had over the two days but we know from the ticket sales total that it was a higher amount than last year,” Ms Baldwin said. 

“We’ve had no big dramas or problems, in fact there were no issues reported to our security whatsoever - I have nothing but praise for our security staff.”

One of the most popular attractions was the Radical Reptiles Training display arena, run by snake expert David Williams. 

Mr Williams, who has been handling snakes for nine years, said the show was as more about safety than entertainment.

“Snake handling is a bit like a car crash - no matter how bad it is, people always have to stop for a look,”  he said. 

“I think the lessons are effective in making a difference in how people react around snakes - a lot of the audience is grey nomads and a lot of them mention how they didn’t know a lot of the information in the show beforehand.

“If you see a snake, straight away just stop, stand still and make sure everyone knows it’s there - remember the snake usually won’t want to know you as much as you don’t want to know him.”

Mr Williams added that only two species of aggressive snake had fangs that could pierce denim jeans and boots, so the first layer of snake safety was clothing

Ms Baldwin said preparations for next year’s show had ‘already begun’ as traders booked themselves in for next year.