Exhibitors vying for showing success at 150th Show

30 July 2012

Exhibitors vying for showing success at 150th Show

With entries now open for the 150th Canterbury A&P Show, organisers are expecting a record year with the lure of a coveted Show win at the Anniversary event proving an added incentive for farmers and equestrian enthusiasts from throughout New Zealand.

“Canterbury’s last big Anniversary was its Centennial Show in 1962. At the time it was heralded as the best Show ever had, even the weather was reasonably kind, except for one heavy shower. We had 5002 entries, which was a Canterbury A&P Show record that stood for almost twenty years. With all the excitement that an Anniversary year attracts I think we’re set for another record year in 2012. If you enjoy showing then it doesn’t get any better than a Supreme Champion win at the 150th Show” commented Canterbury A&P Association President Richard Lemon.

The Canterbury A&P Association hosts the largest Agricultural and Pastoral Show in the country averaging close to 7,000 livestock and feature competition entries, comprising more than 3,000 animals battling it out in over 1,700 classes including sections for horse/pony, beef/dairy cattle, sheep, alpaca, llama, pig, wool, goat, dog trials, poultry, shearing & woolhandling, wine, gourmet oil, mint lamb, woodchopping and vintage machinery.

Judith Johnson, owner of Maxwellton Pony Stud in Waimate and recipient of the 2011 Supreme Champion Animal of Show, is preparing her team of four ponies to compete at this year’s Canterbury A&P Show. The culmination of three days of judging, Supreme Champion Animal of Show recognises the best of the best with Supreme Champion entrants across equestrian and livestock sections battling it out for the top title. “I’ve been attending the Show for 40 years, while winning Supreme Champion is the holy grail of showing, a win at the 150th Show would be all the more sweet. When we won last year I did say quietly to my daughter, this is great but wouldn’t it be better if it was the 150th!” commented Johnson.

Fourth generation Holstein breeder and Show regular, Dean Geddes, is set to return to this year’s Canterbury’s A&P Show with his family and a truck load of cattle. The Tahora Holstein Friesian Stud at Tai Tapu consistently produces top winning animals, taking out the 2011 Supreme Champion All Breeds Dairy Cow and winning Supreme Champion Animal of Show in 2010. “The family will be back at the Show this year, with the kids also involved in junior judging, it will definitely be one big party this year” added Geddes.

Former Canterbury A&P Association President and long-time exhibitor Ian Stevenson will be competing in sheep, wool and dog trials at this year’s Show. Ian is also on the 150th Anniversary Committee formed to coordinate the celebrations for the Association. “It’s great to be involved in the 150th; the family has a long history with the Association. I was President in 2006, Dad was President in 1982 and my Uncle Jim came up for presidential nomination alongside Robert Reid for Canterbury’s Centennial Show in 1962. They tossed a coin for the presidency, dad lost, so was President for the 99th Show” added Stevenson.

The Stevenson farm The Gums Partnership, based at Cheviot, were recipients of the Pyne & Boyle Challenge Cup in 2011, awarded to the winner of the Supreme Champion Fleece. “The sterling silver perpetual trophy was donated by the descendants of F.H. Pyne and Alex. Boyle in 1958. Valued in excess of $20,000, it is one of the most valuable trophies of the 250+ in the possession of the Canterbury A&P Association” says Lemon.

A new addition to the Showjumping section this year is the Two Star Pony Grand Prix Series, sponsored by West Acre Farm Ltd, which will be held on Friday 16 November in the Main Arena. The competition joins the existing Two Star Horse Grand Prix Series, sponsored by Ballantynes, which has $2000 in prize money up for grabs. The Grand Prix Series are national events on the equestrian calendar that run from the start of the showjumping season in September till March the following year. Points are allocated for every placing at A&P Shows and equestrian events throughout the season.

In addition to showing success, exhibitors will be competing for over $100,000 in overall prize money at the Canterbury A&P Show. Canterbury will also be continuing its exhibitor subsidies, offered to North Island and Southland exhibitors who have to travel great distances to attend the Show.

The 150th Canterbury A&P Show will be held Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 November at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. The Schedule of Classes can be downloaded at www.theshow.co.nz or contact the Show Secretary on 03 343 3033 or info@theshow.co.nz. Entries close late September for most sections.

ENDS

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