Tuesday 10 November 2015

It’s nearly Showtime!

The cattle are here, the ferris wheels are built and the woodchoppers are sharpening their axes - the 153rd Canterbury A&P Show is almost here.

New Zealand’s largest community event kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday 11 November) at ASB Agricultural Park and organisers are once more expecting over 100,000 people to attend from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November.

Event Director Geoff Bone said that livestock, equestrian and feature competition entries are comparable to last year despite a tough year for farmers.

“We’re still waiting on the final few entries to come in, but it’s looking like another very strong year in our showing sections. In particular cattle entries are up this year by nearly 15%, pig and llama entries have also significantly increased and our horse entry numbers are up too as we get set to host a Royal A&P Equestrian Event.”

Mr Bone said that hundreds of contractors, volunteers, trade exhibitors and major sponsors have been on-site setting up for the past few weeks.

“The ASB Agricultural Park is looking fantastic and as a not-for profit organisation it’s all thanks to our sponsors and volunteers that we’re able to deliver such a great event for the people of Canterbury. We’re especially delighted to have ASB come on board as a Supreme Sponsor this year – it’s investments like these that mean we were able to keep ticket prices the same in 2015 despite the ever-increasing costs of improving an event of this scale.”

ASB General Manager Branch Banking, Grant Gilbert, is looking forward to ASB’s involvement in this year’s Canterbury A&P Show, particularly as first-time Supreme Sponsor of the iconic regional event.

“Our local rural and retail teams have been involved in the event for many years and it’s even more exciting for us that we have lifted our sponsorship support for the event with the renaming of the venue as ASB Agricultural Park and the site’s ASB Arena. This year, we’ll be bringing the ASB caravan to provide special ASB offers, we’ll celebrate the All Blacks’ win by giving out All Blacks merchandise, and our long-time charity partner St John will join us. It’s going to be a great event,” Mr Gilbert says.

The Canterbury A&P Show is New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral show in New Zealand with over 1700 showing classes held throughout the three days of The Show. In addition to the prestige of winning at the Canterbury A&P Show, exhibitors and competitors are also vying for over $100,000 in prize money, 4000 prize ribbons and 250 trophies.

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