A challenge between horsemen to celebrate the famous Man from Snowy River ballad was launched in the town 20 years ago.

Brian Klippel, from Bright, was there to witness the first competition at The Man From Snowy River Festival and has been every year since.

Mr Klippel has watched the event grow from a small gathering 10 kilometres out of Corryong to a huge celebration drawing in excess of 20,000 people.

He said it was significant to him because he used to ride with family and friends along the track where the Man from Snowy River, Jack Riley, rode all those years ago.

“We used to go away for two weeks at a time with the horses.

“We would come through from Tom Groggin Station, exactly where Riley’s Ride goes, and we would end up back in Corryong.

“It’s absolutely magnificent when you’re on Harrington’s Track and you’re looking straight off the edge into the river, there’s barely enough room for two horses to pass.

“I just love getting out in the bush, it’s a good life.”

Mr Klippel said crowd numbers had been the biggest change over the years.

“They have a big horse community here and having that history of The Man From Snowy River — every year they just make it bigger and bigger, you think they can’t fit any more but they do.”

The Man From Snowy River champion was Bronson Macklinshaw, from Armidale, who fought it out against 80 stockmen from across the country for the $15,000 prize.

The ladies champion was taken out by Emma O’Shea, while the junior prize was awarded to Johnny Ward, from Holbrook.

Chairman Andrew Getzendorfer announced the prizemoney would rise from $60,000 to $80,000 next year, with the challenge winner taking home $20,000. 

Festival co-ordinator Jenny Boardman described the competition as a “unique celebration” of the town’s connection with the famous poem written by Banjo Patterson.

“It’s quite amazing, we had record 

attendance numbers, fantastic weather and all events were at capacity,” Ms Boardman said.

“The atmosphere was electric, the challenge is always so exciting — it’s the flagship of the whole festival.

“The standard of horsemanship just keeps improving year after year and it’s such a great reflection of Australian culture bush heritage in the mountains.”

Meanwhile, poets were getting back to the grassroots of where it all started with Banjo Patterson.

The Australian Written and Performance Championships were held at the festival this year and Tom McLiveen took out the written competition with his poem called The Ghost of Long Tan.

“If Banjo was alive today he would be among us — I’d like to say there are some modern day Banjos here in Corryong today keeping it alive for future generations,” Mr McLiveen said.