101st SHOW STARTS TODAY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 21

101st SHOW STARTS TODAY

Today the Canterbury Agricultural and * Pastoral Association, commences its second t century of shows, when the 101st show opens 5 at the Addington Showgrounds. $ The show, which will be held today, 5 tomorrow, and Friday, is the culmination of * many months of hard work and preparation t by both the association’s committee and by i breeders and exhibitors throughout the pro--5 vince. $ For most of the Canterbury breeders, t the show is the highlight of the year and they s make every effort to nave their stock in peak 5 show condition. * Although entries in all the livestock £ classes and most other classes are down on s last year (which, it must be remembered, was 5 the centennial show, when the association, £ breeders and exhibitors alike made a special ; effort), there is still much which should 5 attract the interest of both the town and rural * communities. j Special attention has been given to the ; ring programme again this year. The moving * grand parade, which proved so successful and ; spectacular at the centennial show, will again t be staged. ; Polo, which created terrific interest and 5 drew’ capacity crowds, will again be featured. ; Although one of the oldest sports, with % its origins lost in the archives of time, it is 5 only just regaining popularity in the South 5 Island after a lapse of many years. It requires t a high degree of physical fitness on the part 5 of both mount and rider. Because of the Srzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

speed at which it is played and the high degree of skill required, almost perfect coordination is required between pony and player. The rules of the game are simply designed, mainly to protect the rider and the horse. This year’s matches will be played between two North Island teams, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay, which are two of the country’s leading teams. Many of the players will be familiar with those seen at the show last year. For the show’ matches, the games will be divided into three chukkas and because the size of the ring is restrictive, the teams wall have onlv three players instead of the customary four. Another of the major highlights of this year’s ring programme is the Cossack riding display by an Australian, Stuart Lear. Among the equestrian feats he is capable of performing are: standing on his hands in the saddle; leaning out backwards from the saddle, suspended only by his feet; swinging out from the saddle, "round under the belly of the horse and regaining the saddle; standing in the saddles of two horses at the same time. All these feats are accomplished while the horse, or horses, are at full gallop. Mr Lear has spent many years perfecting these skills, very few of whfcfi are performed outside Asia. He has attracted millions of spectators at shows in Australia during his' performances. The Canterbury-Westland area final of the shearing and wool-handling competition is also one of the show’s highlights. This will be held just inside the main gates, off Lincoln

road. Seven teams will be competing in the Young Farmers’ Club section and the same number in the open class. The teams come from all parts of the Canterbury and Westland areas. This competition is organised by the agricultural and pastoral associations in the area, the Federated Farmers, the Wool Board and the Department of Agriculture. The winning team in each section will go on to the National finals which will be held in Ashburton on March 13 and 14. Major prize in this competition is a trip to the Sydney sheep show next year. A high standard of both shearing and wool-handling is expected in the competition this year. The poor weather throughout this last winter have undoubtedly had some effect on the livestock entries for this year. Shows in other areas have met with the same problem. The horse classes have dropped to 1146 from 1600 for the centennial show. Other entries, with last year’s in parenthesis, are: dog trials, 59 (67); cattle, 519 (713); goats, 14 (24); pigs, 94 (120); produce and art handicraft, 218 (367); photography, 228 (318); poultry, 199 (243). Sheep entries have fallen by more than 200, 1082 compared with 1297. However, the implement class showed an increase to four this year from one last year. Although some exhibitors do not have any entries in this year, there are quite a few new entrants. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzj