National day —for frogs

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 1

National day —for frogs

Frogs from every swamp in New Zealand will be eligible to compete in the first national frogjumping championship, to be held at Bishopdale on October 29.

The winning frog will be sent to the United States to compete in the American frog-jumping championship at “Frogtown”, Angel’s Camp, Calaveras, California.

Frog-jumping as a sport became very popular around the world after publication of Mark Twain’s short story, “The celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras county.” The organisers of the Bishopdale contest believe they will get at least 10,000 frogs from New Zealand and others from Australia.

Arrangements are now in .progress to have international airlines fly the frogs to Christchurch for the event. Since 1953, Australian frogs have competed successfully in the American event where the first prize is $l5OO. In 1957 an Australian frog, Down Under, was second with a leap of 9ft lin, only 2in behind the winner. The Calaveras record of 15ft was set in 1955 by an African sharp-nosed frog only 2in long. Queensland frogs are reputed to be outstanding jumpers and could, if entered in the Christchurch contest, be the hardest to beat.

The organisers are anxious to have many Christchurch children involved in the competition and will have supporting contests on the study of frogs on the programme. Substantial prizes will be awarded for the largest frog, the frog with the loudest croak, the most unusually marked frog and others.

Contest rides The rules governing frogjumping contests are well defined. A “jump” is three successive leaps and the final length of the “jump” is the distance from the middle of a large ring to the final resting place of the frog after the third leap. The jumping frog’s handler is a “jockey” who is forbidden to touch the frog after the first leap. Before the first leap the jockey is permitted to give the frog one brisk flick or tickle.

The organisers intend to have representatives of the S.P.C.A. present at the contest to ensure that no frog is maltreated. Leading up to the finals there will be heats and repechage events to give every frog a fair chance. Boys in the Bishopdale area will be paid to catch frogs for entry into the competition.

After the competition all the frogs except the winner will be released into a good natural habitat. There are three species of native frogs—the Leipelma hochstetteri the L. archeyi and L. hamilton —all from remote areas in the North Island. They are small, seldom exceeding IJin in length and are mottled dark and light brown. Most frogs in New Zealand are of Australian origin. They were introduced to Christchurch in March,

1864, by Major Hornbrook of Mount Pleasant who wanted them for his ponds. They left Australia as tadpoles and arrived as frogs. In July, 1866, the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society had a frog and a toad in a pond. In 1867 more frogs arrived from Hobart and were reported to be on sale in Christchurch for two shillings each.