THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AT ROYAL SHOW

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31215, 12 November 1966, Page 18

THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AT ROYAL SHOW

50,000 People Pay A Record £5200

People’s Day at the Royal Show was virtually children’s day. For every two adults who entered the gates yesterday there were at least four children.

Officers of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association said they had never before seen such a vast number of children at a show in Christchurch.

It was an exceptionally successful day—the weather was ideal, attracting a crowd estimated at 50,000, compared with 40,000 last year, and gate takings set a record.

Yesterday’s figure of £5200 —£880 more than on People's Day last vear—and the total for the three days of the Royal Show—£7429, against £5926 last year—were both the highest in the association’s history. The biggest three-day total previously was £6280, for the 1950 show.

There were frequent sunny spells throughout the morning and early afternoon, the sky finally clearing to create brilliant warm weather for the latter part of the day. A light easterly breeze, however, kept conditions pleasantly fresh, while stirring up little dust.

The grandstand and embankments gradually filled during the ring events, which began at 11 a.m. with the open hunters’ and champion hunter comnetitions, and some spirited riding drew applause.

Grand Parade

By 1.45 p.m. people had packed the whole area around the ring to near capacity to watch the show’s finale, the grand parade.

At its head came the immaculate Ellesmere Highland Pipe Band which impressed spectators with its stirring piping and precision forming and reforming on the march. A magnificent display of cattle followed, the champion and place-winning animals being led along either side of the ring by white-coated exhibitors and brought back to form a double line around the perimeter. The horses, manes plaited and beribboned, filed round within the border formed by the cattle, and then the horses and hunters, senior

and intermediate ponies, and the junior ponies made up three double circles within the ring, the outer circle of each moving in the opposite direction to the inner.

Elaborate Pattern

The resulting pattern was elaborate and effective, and indicated considerable planning.

But, as one spectator observed, no grand parade would be complete without an “incident” or two, and this one had several. First, as the line of cattle was nearing the secretary’s stand, a masisve Hereford bull broke away from his leader, who pursued him in an erratic course for twothirds of the length of the ring. When the bull’s rope was finally retrieved, there was a round of applause for his captor. , As the cattle were leaving the parade, half a dozen calves broke away and raced off in various directions, with small children scampering after them. A large white shorthorn cow joined in the fun.

During the parade, a couple of gliders drifted above the grounds, and two light planes circled with banners proclaiming election slogans—both for the one party. Although the crowd thinned

after the first-rate polo game which came after the grand parade, there was a discerning and appreciative audience for the feature jumping event, the Ballantyne F.E.1., which was strongly contested. Earlier in the afternoon, 22 competitors including four from the United States, England and Scotland, demonstrated their skill and speed in the tractor-driving contest. Two tractors, each fitted with a safety frame and towing a trailer with a petrol drum balanced precariously on the tray, were zig-zagged through tortuous courses, backed into cramped bays, steered round tight corners, and turned in 12ft diameter circles. The most hazardous obstacle was a simulated gateway with a railway sleeper laid on the ground between the stakes. The driver had to steer his tractor at an angle, so that the wheels rolled over the sleeper individually; and a toppled drum meant 10 points lost. A Hawarden driver, W. Evans, earned first place, losing only six points. P. Hayes (Christchurch), who lost nine points, and G. Crossen (West Melton), losing 21, were second and third. Coincidentally, all three drivers returned 2min 37sec, the fastest time. Other ring events included dazzling “horse sense” exhibitions by J. Rogers (Waikato) and Echo, and Miss D. Reid

(Otago) with Bluebell and her sheepdog Angus; and “full cry”—the Christchurch Hunt Hounds, with master, whip and huntsmen in scarlet coats, and the echo of the hunting horn, adding a very English note to the day. This splendid pack was formed 100 years ago. A king-sized sideshow alley, containing at least 60 deafening attractions, swarmed with children all day. A random survey produced interesting answers when children were asked how much pocket money they had been given to spend. Ten shillings and “about a quid” were the most common sums. Two 15-year-old boys, however, had invested ninepence and one-and-six respectively. “I’ve got a quid," one said, pulling out the note as proof, “but I won’t spend it—it’s not worth it.” Obviously few thought likewise. Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds proved as popular as ever, and some sought more sophisticated entertainment on the ghost train or at the circus. Business boomed. Not all the children were con-

tent to spend the whole day there. Many families remained at the ringside until well Into the afternoon, with a brief visit to sideshow alley before leaving.

The lost children’s tent received a steady stream of dampeyed youngsters during the day, but not as many as on Thursday. Many of the children insisted that it was not they who were lost, but their parents.

The St. John Ambulance Brigade was called on only for minor assistance, a frequent request being for aspirin. Minor cuts and dust in the eyes were also attended to. The extensive display of thousands of pounds worth of machinery, vehicles and agricultural equipment, ail painted and polished to showroom standards. drew many viewers—and, according to attendants, several firm orders, as well as inquiries to be followed up with demonstrations on the farm.

People’s Day diet varied. Some (notably the children) seemed able to subsist on icecream, popcorn, candy floss and the like. Others needed a hot dog or pie to sustain them, and many city visitors brought sandwiches.

It was among the country people, however, that really sumptuous spreads were found A group of half a dozen at one car during the middle of the day had, as well as the obligatory bacon-and-egg pie, a sizeable ham, chicken, sandwiches, savouries, fruit cake, sponge cake, biscuits . . . plus beer, whisky, brandy and gin. “But we haven’t got a pavlova cake,” the hostess pointed out.