Last year's Bombala Cup featured a jampacked six-race card, VIP guests, champagne, food, fashions and of course a community of friends and family coming together.

Bombala's annual Bombala Cup meeting last year, hosted by the Bombala and District Jockey Club Inc, was held on a "good" rated green grassy track prepared the week before by local volunteers.

Wherever you went at the track, people were having a great time. The hard-core racing crowd circled the big screen, keeping an eye on the parallel Caulfield Cup program while lapping up the atmosphere at Bombala and darting across the TAB or bookies ring for a bet.

Last year was particularly special for local Bombala trainer Anita Walder, who achieved her first win on the home track in the fourth, a 1400 metre handicap, with six-year-old chestnut gelding Deadly Weapon. It was also a first win for newly qualified strapper Darcy Wallace.

The Cup win went to Queanbeyan galloper Look Only, which also won the event in 2023.

As is common at race meets all across the country, the Bombala Cup Fashion On the Field competition was as well supported and as competitive as the racing program.

Entrants in the competition, held in divisions between the horse races, showed an overall spring theme in their choices and the couples category was particularly eye catching.

Four couples contested the category with Canberra couple Sally Martin and Trevor Dhu taking the first prize on their first trip to the Bombala races.

Trevor said Sally had been in charge of the outfits. Runners up were Michael and Judy Hannah of Tumut, who have won similar competitions in Cootamundra and Wagga Wagga.

Judges Leisa Mackey and Stephanie Kwong, who also judged last year, said they had been looking for attention to detail, special effects, spring colours and effort and had not been disappointed.

Local four year old Remi Hodak won the 12 years and under girls category with fellow Bombala girl Lainey Coates, eight, runner up. All young entrants won a packet of lollies.

The boys 12 and under category was won by Felix Gough, six, with Jasper Potts, 10, runner up.

Brandy Crotty, 17, of Bombala, having her first attempt at the competition, won the 13-18 years girls category with Jemima Merritt, 17, also of Bombala, second.

Best dressed teen boy was Bombala's Oliver Stephen, 17 with Joshua Tallis, 16, runner up.

Nathan Robinson of Bombala won 18-40 years men with Daniel Douch of Bombala the runner up, making his debut appearance.

The women's 18-40 category was highly contested, with Laura Benwell of Bombala selected as the winner. She chose a blue dress with flowers and a complimentary hat, earning the judges' praise for her classic style. Runner up Tayla Ventry of Bombala stood out in her striking patterned high fashion dress complimented with an orange hat and shoes.

The mens' 40 plus category was won by Bombala's Henry Brown.

Runner up was Steve Goodyer of Bombala.

The ladies' 40 plus division was won by Mary Ventry of Bombala wearing a distinctive pink outfit accentuated by a large flower. Tumut's Judy Hannah was runner up.

Let's see if any of these winners will match last year's performance, or if some new competitors will nose their way through.

Come along to the Porta Bombala Cup on Saturday, 18 October from 11.30am.