Record entry ensures a high standard

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 5

Record entry ensures a high standard

A record entry in the forty - seventh Mayfield Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show on Saturday has guaranteed a high standard of competition, and promises to hold strong interest for town and country alike. Without the inclusion of school entries, the number received for the show stands at 3027—we1l above the previous record of 2703

set at the 1970 show. School entries included, the over-all entry rises to a figure 800 above last year’s. This year, a total of 3930 were received, against the 1971 figure of 3120. This increase is in line with the large part Mayfield plays in the life and economy of the Ashburton county.

The area nestles near the foothills in the south-west comer of the county, surrounded by rich farming country. The annual show is considered to be among the leading autumn sheep shows in New Zealand, and improvements in this year’s programme have been designed to consolidate its position. The committee organising the show realised that the traditional activities of an agricultural and pastoral show were not by themselves sufficient to draw a large crowd or to maintain the attention of all those who attend. While looking for new areas in which to expand, and to encourage the closer relationship between

townspeople and countrydwellers, the committee was reluctant to make the show more like a gymkhana. It was decided, therefore, to add a display by marching girls and a baby show to the programme to add colour to the day. In addition, there will also be the national dancing events, always popular with the crowd.

The importance of the show is reflected in the fact that the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Carter) will attend the show with the Member of Parliament for South Canterbury, Mr R. L. G. Talbot. The patron of the association (Mr F. W. Allan) has also recognised the significance of the show in the district, and has given

two prizes to be won~outright—one in the sheep section, and the other for the most points gained in the vegetable, cooking, flower, and other domestic classes. Both of these promise tp be closely contested. Although the Romney and Southdown sections have more classes than other breeds, there has

been keen competition among them and points will be hard to earn. Stud breeders will have an advantage over flock sheep exhibitors a s most of their classes are for one sheep. Flock sheep men, however, have to pen three sheep each entry. Likely contenders for the other new award have concentrated on either one section alone or on two. This spirit of competition will prevail throughout the show, as in only four sections—pets, pigs, wool, and vegetables—the number of entries is below that of previous shows and. in all but the pig section, the difference is minor.

The pig section attracted only nine entries, compared with last year’s 61— but the 1971 pig entries were exceptionally high—a record.

Perhaps indicative of the trend towards cattle in times of hardship for sheep and wool products is this year’s cattle entries. These have doubled from 10 last year to 21, and should be of a high standard. Sheep entries, however, still increased by more than

200 over last year—from 4/3 to 675. The show grounds have excellent jumping turf and the horse and pony sections consolidated their popularity by attracting almost 300 entries more than they did last year. The greater interest in the show wag demonstrated in the domestic classes, where most sections received considerably more entries than last year, and in some cases doubling them.

Detailed, the entries, with last year’s figures in parentheses, are: Sheep, 675 (473); pets, 15 (16); cattle, 21 (10); pigs. 9 (61); horses and ponies, 874 (589); dog trials, 63 (47); sheep dogs, 13 (13); wool. 57 (66); poultry, 50 (46); farm produce, 52 (48); vegetables, 196 (199); field roots, 20 (13); fruit and preserves, 43 (20); dairy produce, 110 (106); juvenile cookery, 128 (101); bread scones, pastry, 104 (71); 107 (97); flowers, 130 (67); decorative, 51 (49); needlework and crafts, 207 (151); photography, 102 (74); schools, 903 (803); total, 3930 (3120).