by Rosemary Harris - Journalist, Pastoral Times

THE 2004 Deniliquin Ute Muster was an "outstanding success'' according to festival co-ordinator Kate Pitt.

Ms Pitt and the ute muster committee were thrilled with the response to the ute muster, held on October 1 and 2.

Two new word records were achieved - 4012 utes in the one place at the one time and 1328 people wearing blue singlets gathered together in the one place at the one time.

This was the first time the blue singlet record had ever been attempted. Records weren't just being broken with utes and singlets, there were record sales at the gate, record sales un the Bundy Bar and record ute muster merchandise sales.

While final attendance numbers are still being tallied, it is estimated between 16,000 and 20,000 patrons attended Saturday night's concert. Many of the ute enthusiasts who attended the festival described it as the best weekend ever.

The general behaviour of patrons was also positive with police reporting no major incidents to the committee.

The new inclusions into this year's muster were also received well by the crowd.

The spectacular bull ride was enormously popular with thousands flocking to the arena to witness the thrills and spills.

The tractor pull was also a welcome inclusion and drew the crowd in. Norm Cornfoot of Somerton took out the ute of the year category with his Kenworth truck which has been transformed into a ute.

Second was Justin Kirwin of with his 1956 Pickup Chev and Ron Barker of Glen Waverley came in third with his 1959 Ford Zephyr.

Niel James of Traralgon was drawn out as the winner of the Holden V8 One Tonner ute.

The furthest travelled ute was won by overseas entrants Jack Zaleski and Gene Bevens who shipped over their 1966 El Camino all the way from the USA for the muster.

Other winners were: Best 4WD Andrew Dougles (Murrumbeena); Best Homegrown Ute (Postcode 2710) Clent Wilson; Feral Ute Mark Harris; Bundy Ute Ryan Brooks; Best Town Ute Chad Silvey; Best Chick's Ute - Carin Langenbaker.

The entertainers got the crowd dancing and swaying in unison. On the Friday night, Adam Brand was so touched by the crowd's response he could be seen wiping a tear from his eye. And on the Saturday night, Jimmy Barnes continued the party atmosphere and summed up the whole weekend perfectly as he sung a few favourites.