31 October 2011

The countdown is on!

It’s New Zealand’s biggest and best Agricultural and Pastoral Show and it’s back to celebrate all things rural. With the countdown on for this year’s Show, it’s time for all Cantabrians to come together to celebrate all that is great about the region.

“We’re expecting another bumper year with thousands of animals on site competing in over 1,700 livestock and equestrian classes for the best of the best showing titles. The Canterbury A&P Show is undoubtedly one of Christchurch’s most iconic events, welcoming over one million visitors since moving to the Showgrounds in 1997. It’s an event unlike any other, bringing the traditions of the country to town since 1862” commented Canterbury A&P Show President Peter Gardner.

Livestock & Equestrian Entries
Livestock and equestrian entries are on par with previous years with exhibitors expected from across the country as well as across the globe. From Tauranga in the North to Winton in the South, exhibitors are showing their support for the countries largest Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Both the woodchopping and shearing sections will be hosting international tests, with competitiors from Australia competing in woolhandling, machine and blade shearing as well as various woodchopping disciplines. In addition to the New Zealand vs Australia Veterans Team Race and New South Wales v South Island Stihl Team Race, the woodchopping section has competitors from as far afield as Wales and Canada as well as World Champion lumberjack Jason Wynyard.

Volunteer Effort
At the heart of the Canterbury A&P Association is a history of promoting agricultural and pastoral interests. It is the tireless and enthusiastic work of all volunteers that contributes to the overall success of the annual Show. This includes judges and stewards from throughout New Zealand as well as internationally who preside over the livestock and competition judging, all participating on a voluntary basis. “Volunteer contribution towards the organisation and running of the Show is essential to its operation. The Show utilises the skills and resources of 570 volunteers contributing well over 20,000 voluntary hours to the successful delivery of the event” added Gardner.

Schools Education Programme
As part of the Schools Education Programme, the Canterbury A&P Show will welcome 100 schools and invited groups comprising over 6000 students, parents and teachers. The programme was developed to encourage younger audiences to the Show with schools and invited groups offered discounted ticketing to attend either Wednesday or Thursday of the Show. The programme is made available by a subsidy from the Canterbury A&P Association.

Canterbury Agricultural Park
The Canterbury A&P Show is held at Canterbury Agricultural Park, a 110 hectare purpose built Show facility, located at Wigram, 6 kilometres from the Airport. While work on the Christchurch Southern Motorway is still in progress, there will be minimal changes to entry and exit points at this year’s Show. The general public will now have three entry and exit points for the public car park, including from Templetons Road, McMahon Drive and Wigram Road Entrance 3.

Show Entertainment
The 2011 Canterbury A&P Show features a line-up of top class entertainment, food and wine, plenty of animals and shopping plus activities and attractions that will delight the whole family. Entertainment highlights include the lumberjack show Bushwacker Bonanza and performances by The Haze, dubbed Christchurch’s youngest professional band. There’s plenty more back on show this year including Clydesdale 100th Anniversary Displays, cooking demonstrations with top chefs including MasterChef’s Jax Hamilton and Lana Garland from Food in a MinuteR, the comedic talents of Heath Franklin and his alter ego Chopper in the Tui BaaBaa Bar, plenty of live music and all the Show favorites, including the Shetland Grand National and the Ballantynes Grand Parade. To top it all off, one lucky Christchurch couple will be getting hitched at the Show on Showday, at 11.11am Friday the 11th of the 11th 2011.

The Amazing Quake Race - in association with Air New Zealand
Four teams of four will take part in a traditional wheelbarrow race with a difference on the Friday of the Show. The charity race will involve earthquake related obstacles and activities in a celebration of the city’s resilience. The winning team will receive a Tui prize pack and $2000 to donate to the charity of their choice courtesy of Air New Zealand. “Canterbury Agricultural Park was the base for the Farmy Army and Student Volunteer Army earlier in the year. As a result we have a number of wheelbarrows stored on site. The idea for the race came about when we were deciding what we could do with the wheelbarrows while bringing something light-hearted to the people of Christchurch” commented Show Event Director Rae Finlay.

The 2011 Canterbury A&P Show will be held Wednesday 9 to Friday 11 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. It is the largest A&P Show in the country attracting over 100,000 people, over 6000 livestock and feature competition entries and 500 trade exhibitors.

ENDS

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