The final point score had Yass on 1446, Binalong 1445, Jugiong 1334 and last year’s winners Harden 1031. 

Saturday evening’s event saw all eyes on the skies as storm clouds threatened. 

In positive news for carnival organisers, the rain held out long enough for the freestyle, backstroke and relay events to take place.

Participation is the key to success in the Shine Shield with points for your team earned each time a swimmer takes to the water. 

Binalong, who entered the final round with a 66 point lead over Yass, had high hopes their home town advantage would get them over the line. 

“Points for Binalong!” was the catch cry of the host camp as they encouraged swimmers to enter events in a bid to fulfill their fairy-tale ending some 48 years after their first and only win. 

In one heat of the over 30s relay, the entire field, all 20 swimmers, were from Binalong. 

It wasn’t to be however, as Yass finished strongly. 

Yass also came from behind to clinch the Sheahan Cup for the relay events. 

Binalong certainly came to the party to honour the 50^th birthday of the Shine Shield, with a cake cut by Anne Cooke, a relative of the late Buster Shine, for whom the Shine Shield is named, and Yass mayor Rowena Abbey.

There was also balloon art and glitter tattoo painting. 

The inter-town carnival continues to grow in popularity with Binalong Shine Shield Coordinator Belinda Pigram saying numbers were up across all four carnivals.

While the event is all about the kids and encouraging participation from youngsters and the opportunity for them to mingle with mates from other towns, an over 40s category introduced this year proved popular with strong field numbers. 

Now that another Shine Shield carnival has been done and won, all participants and organisers can feel proud of what has been a successful year.