SHOW AWARDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 22, 5 November 1938, Page 3

SHOW AWARDS

FINE PARADE OF CHAMPIONS. SOME KEEN RIVALRY SHOWN. HORSES CAPTURE INTEREST. Though there were hundreds of animals of first- quality, the pick of the County’s breeding, on the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s slunv-ground on Thursday, the horses, it may safely be said, captured the main interest.

There was much to see in the several J sections of the live-stock side of the exhibition, and the large number of patrons spent a thoroughly enjoyable and educational day at the ringside and about the several pens and stalls. The value of the Association’s work in assisting breeders to produce only the very best was again amply demonstrated oil all sides, and Congratulations must go to the officers of the organisation, no less than to those who exhibited, even to those whose entries did not gain the coveted trophies, medals, ribbons or tickets which are the reward of earnest endeavour. Round the Sheep Pens. Though there was a good representation of Romney Marsh sheep in the catalogue, the competition was confined to two exhibitors, Mr H. B. L. Johnstone and the estate of the late Mi’ George Tait. Championship honours in rams wont to the former and in ewes to the latter. In each case the sheep which took the red ribbons were worthy in every respect of the award. There was a strong section of Ryelands, which is becoming an increasingly important section. Not so long ago, Mr H. C. B. Wit hell was the only exhibitor in these classes, hiit lately there has been strong competition till on Thursday last there, were four breeders in the catalogue. Air John j Brooks’ entries took the ram champion- i ship and the reserve, while in ewes j Messrs L. J. and S. W. Galletly annexed tin' ribbons, with tin* reserve going to Air AVithell. Messrs Galletly have in late years come very much to the for? 1 with sheep exhibits in this breed and also in Corriedales, though at the Ashburton Show they had only one Corriedale entry. There was outstanding quality in the championship animals and they attracted a good deal of notice.

The Corriedale section of the show was the most important as far as numbers of entries went, there being no fewer than 79 sheep in these pens. The competition was fairly widely spread, 10 exhibitors being represented, and there was keen rivalry among them. Air F. L. AlcGregor had. 20 sheep listed, 13 of them being rams, and all the championship awards went to him, an exceptionally high success in face of competition from the other Corriedale breeders who hitherto have taken the honours. The all round high quality of the Corriedales was very favourably commented on, as was that in the Ryeland section, these being the best of the whole sheep yarding.

After the troublous season that has been experienced it had been expected that the effects would ’ be apparent among the animals shown, but there were few signs of them. Quality again characterised the exhibits. In the Southdown breed,. Mr J. D. Galpin annexed all the championships. He had an excellent array of types of the breed. Messrs R. J. Low and J. Reid divided the English Leicester championships, the former taking owe and the reserve and the reserve ram, and the latter the ram championship. Mr Low took both champions in Border Leicester sheep, his principal opponent being Mr J. Stewart, to whose entries the reserves wore awarded in each case. As far as the Merinos were concerned, there was practically no competition, Mr C. Urquhart being opposed; by Mr J. H. Muirhead in one class. Among The Horses. Interest always centres in the main show r ring where the host- the County has to offer in horses may be seen, and the lines that were exhibited on Thursday were in every way a credit to the owners and the district. The draught classes were very well filled, and there were some exceptionally fine representatives of the heavy breed on view. At a glance, the spectator could tell Mr A. J. Doak’s entry was a champion. It had the essential outlines that pick champions out of the crowd. This was .“Wattle Grove Mac,” by “McQuaid of Ochtertyre” (imp.), dam “Wattle Grove Violet,” bred by Messrs E. C. Bonnington and Son. Mr I>. G. Wright’s entry, also a. fine draught, took the reserve ticket. Mr A. Graham Holmes’s imported animal, “Des Marilene,” took the female championship, and was closely followed by the reserve ticket taker, Mr R.. A. Oakley’s “Myra Everest.” Saddle horses made a very fine show, entries of an excellent class being forward in most cases. Champion hack was Mrs J. H. Grigg’s Hairloii, a performer with a good show [ ring .record at the principal shows. ! Numerous winners at principal shows] figured in the prize list. All the hunter classes* drew keen competition, C. L. Orbed's Gambler,, who took the hunter championship at Tiniaru last week, was again adjudged the best, this horse* winning the lady s hunter class, in which there were .14 entries, and the 14-stone event.

Cobs and ponies made a good display, though in the case of cobs competition was meagre in most of the classes. Champion cob was .1. S. and I?.. B. Li Hoy’s Firenjrm. The pony championship was won hv Janet Grigg’s Tiddlev Wiiiks, 13 hands and under class, the win taking with it Mrs J. Montgomery’s challenge cup for the he*t saddle pony under 14.2 ridden by hoy or girl not exceeding Hi years Of age. Champion harness pony was F. W. Jarman’s Nuisance. The Montrose challenge cup was won by Miss B. Hanrnhn.il, pony (13 hands and under) and rider (13 sea.rs and under) being judged as a. unit. Though tine cattle disappointed by the smaller numbers brought forward, there was little to criticise in the quality that was presented. The dairy cow section attracted breeders more than the others, and- among the exhibitors were such, well-known figures as Messrs John Small, G. H. B. Lill, J. M.

Johnston, while among the Jerseys was .Mr J. 1,. Tucker, who has hern a consistent exhibitor over a lone; period. This year he met serious competition from entries by [Messrs J. C. Guinness and F. J. \V. Fil. Mr Guinness formerly devoted his attention to light horses, hut has now turned to cattle, also, having already gained some important successes' in the ring. The cow championship on Thursday went to Mr Guinness’s “Allanclftle Royal Victress,’’ by “Los Xeimcs Em])eror” ; dam, “Allandale Victress” ; bred by Mr A. Horn. The reserve champion went to Mr Tucker’s “Broadlands Rosalie” (121 801) by “Whare Kura Tiki”; dam. “Bmadlands Rosette,” and bred by Mr Tucker. The champion. Jqrsey hull was the property of Mr Fll. It was “Royal Oak Oliver” (H.B. 00807) by lioval Dale Warrigal : dam. Royal Oak Rosalie, and bred by Mr A. .J. Halie, of New Plymouth. The reserve was taken by Mr Tucker s “Si I verb rook Golden Lad” (8ol<32) by “Allandale Viola General” ; dam.

“Silverbrook Goldie.” and bred by Messrs Dodge Brothers. Champion Friesians were owned bv Mr C. J. Neville and MrsS. M. Hu like in the female section, and by Mrs Hulme in the male section.- These were all time stamps of the breed, and were, respectively, as follow:—“Glenotto Adele Posh de Kol” ; “Peatlands Pixie Alcartra.” by ‘‘Pareora Thumper Alcartra,” dam “Peatlands Pearl Bosh”; “Pareora Thumper Alcartra,” by “Bloomfield Alcartra Clothilde,” dam ‘ Pareora Sylvia Van Thumper.” Championship awards in the pig section went to Messrs A. L. Barnett (Berkshire*), and J. Simpson (Turnworth’s), and a new and very interesting competitor was the High School Farm, which took the award for Large White boar. The school farm has lately taken a lively interest in pig breeding carrying out some comprehensive experiments recently. The fact that tlu' farm’s entry was the only one of its kind do os not detract from . file fact that the farm is taking this interest in practical work.