The winners were announced at an exhibition event held at the Royal Hotel in Cumnock on Saturday night with more than 200 eager entrants and guests in attendance.

The local Men’s Shed made five sculptures including a giraffe on a penny farthing, monkeys on a tandem bike, a goanna riding a scooter, an emu on a unicycle and a kangaroo on a bike, all of which have been placed together in a paddock on the Obley Road.

Brian Sumner and Garry Hayes attended the exhibition representing the shed with Mr Sumner admitting they were a bit shocked to win.

“It is a surprise, there were a lot of people who went to the trouble of making something for the competition,” he said.

“There were some really great sculptures … to get a prize at all is fantastic.

“I think one of the reasons we won is that we got a premium site and we put the whole lot together in one collection.”

The competition was the brainchild of Debbie Blatch and Christine Weston who wanted to create a visual fantasy for children, parents and tourists travelling along the Obley Road between Molong and Dubbo.

The idea for animals on bikes came from the blending of the zoo and the Mulga Bill bike ride held in Yeoval annually.

News of the Men’s Shed’s win was greeted with applause from group members this week, with the $1000 prize money already being allocated to ongoing expenses at the shed such as bills and maintenance.

Shed member Bob Blatch said the win was a great boost for all members.

“It (Animals on Bikes) is a great concept,” he said.

“The shed’s only been going for 12 months … some of us did the welding, others did the cut-outs and painting.

“We’re already looking forward to the next competition and have an idea already.”

Men’s Shed members will be able to see all the mounted sculptures next Tuesday when they take a bus trip to Blayney.

While in Blayney they will visit the local Men’s Shed and the Lucknow Men’s Shed before travelling on the Obley Road on the way home.