Leading Counting Show

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 21

Leading Counting Show

The Methven Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s fifty-third annual show will be held on Saturday. This show has a reputation for being one of the best country shows in the South Island.

A feather in the cap of the association this year is the allocation of the new Mid-Canterbury district chiller-type beef and beef cuts competition to it by the Meat Board. The association is a pioneer in beef cuts competitions and the allocation of this competition to Methven is no doubt a recognition of this interest.

Fifty-nine steers have been entered in the competition this year and the cattle will be seen on the hoof at the show on Saturday when they will be judged in the saleyards next door.

The judging of sides and cuts will be done at the Islington works of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company next week where a field day will be held on Wednesday afternoon. The Ashburton and Mayfield associations have cooperated with Methven in this competition. The association is also continuing for the third year with its lamb cuts competition. This is open to a single lamb of any breed most suitable for the precut lamb trade. Twentynine have been entered for this contest this year and these lambs will be judged on the hoof at the show and then slaughtered at the Kaiapoi works of the North Canterbury Sheepfarmers’ Freezing Company, where a field day will be held next

Wednesday morning. Another innovation this year, with emphasis on the export trade, is a new class for a pair of porkers, not over 801 b dead weight, to be most suitable for the export trade. These pigs will also be judged on the hoof at the show and then on the hooks at the Islington works, where it is hoped that there may also be some exhibits of cuts from these porkers. Borthwicks are giving an engraved trophy and an annual cash prize for this event. In the beef section again, a new class this year is for a pair of run beef bulls of any recognised breed, born since July 1, 1965, and most suitable for breeding for the export beef market. The New Zealand Aberdeen Angus Cattle Breeders’ Association has given prizes totalling £5 for this class. All these competitions and classes are indicative of the interest of

the association in promoting New Zealand’s export trade in primary produce by finding those products that are most suitable for the consumer. While concerned with such important practical matters, the association has also showed a live interest in staging an entertaining ring programme, which is attractive to city as well as country folk. The afternoon ring programme will offer a constantly - changing scene. There will be a series of spectacular woodchopping and sawing events, including attempts on two New Zealand sawing records.

There will also be a demonstration by marching girls, a polo match timed to start at 3.45 p.m. between Ashburton and Ashley, the final run-off between the

three leading dogs in the dog trial, and as a fitting grand finale the spectacular steer riding contest. If time permits it is intended this year to have the three winning ponies in each of the main pony events do an exhibition jump in the ring. The showgrounds are in fine shape for the show. Increased access is being provided to the showgrounds proper this year from the adjoining car park. The idea is eventually to trim up the trees bordering this area and to develop a picnic area of it. To shelter the car park, oregons were

planted along the full length of the show grounds last winter. Timber felled on the property last year has been used to provide an additional 80 small hurdles for use in the sheep pens and this timber was also used by the horse committee to provid" additional stalls. The amount of trade space reserved indicates that there wil’ be a wide range of commercial products on display on Saturday. The Dalton trophy for the best laid out trade exhibit always creates interest and Is a factor in raising the standard of this part of the exhibition.