Large entries will tax facilities

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 23

Large entries will tax facilities

In common with similar organisations up and down the country, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association welcomes good entries and well-filled classes, but the response for this year’s Royal Show here has been such that accommoda- ■

tion and facilities will be heavily taxed.

The total entry—5715—is yet another record, and it has forced the association into making considerable additional expenditure.

The cattle pavilion, for instance, will hold 500 beasts, but with 630 beasts to accommodate, arrangements have had to be made to build temporary accommodation. To house the additional 130 cattle, a Mid-Canter-bury firm has been engaged to erect two prefabricated

buildings of the haybam type, one being 150 ft long and the other 105 ft Space in the sheep pavilion has also been overtaxed and additional pens will be required for the entry of 2091. Although the horse entry, at 1662, is the largest received by the association, the existing accommodation is adequate. It comprises 300 loose-boxes and 144 open yards. At 2091, the sheep section is well above the 1488 entries received last year

and the 1498 entries at the last Royal show here in 1966. The most marked increase has been shown in the Romney section, where the entry is 244, compared with 78 at last year’s show. With 284 entries—a rise of 59 —the Corriedales will comprise the largest section, followed by Merinos with 216 (189 last year), Southdowns 185 (143), Polled Dorsets 179 (116), Border Leicesters 138 (134), Hampshires 131 (80) and Dorset Downs 112 (108). Other figures, with last year’s entry in parenthesis, are:— Perendale 84 (47), South Suffolk 101 (86), Dorset Hom 40 (18), Suffolk 89 (50), South Dorset Down 73 (70), Ryeland 59 (51), Cheviot 60 (27), halfbred 37 (32), English Leicester 41 (32) and Lincoln 6 (0). With 194 individual beasts, Friesians will be the largest group in the cattle section. Jerseys account for 91 head (as opposed to entries), Milking Shorthorns 60, and Ayrshires 51. Herefords head the beef

cattle classes with 76 head, then come the Angus with 48, Beef Shorthorns 40, Red (making their first appearance at a Christchurch show) 10, and Galloways 13. In addition Charolais, Murray Grey and Simmental cattle have been entered for exhibition. With 212 individual beasts, the beef section

should be the most representative seen at Christchurch. In view of the growth of the pony and light horse movement, it is not surprising that another record has been set in the horse section, 1662, compared with 1517 last year. A good entry of Clydesdales, including some from the North Island, have been obtained; the saddle classes are well filled, but some of the top F.E.I. jumping events are not as strong as usual. Good prize money is attached to some of the big jumping events. The puissance event carries a stake of $282. It includes $l5O given by the New Zealand Fanners’ Co-operative Association, and the same company will pay a further $5O, if the best jump recorded on the ground—6ft 4in—is bettered. J. Ballantyne and Company have offered $lOO in added prize money to the winner of the open F.E.I. event This carries a total stake of $lB2.

Entries in other sections have shown a general increase. They include pigs with 256 (150 last year), goats 18 (13), dog trial 78

(61), produce and wine 313 (397), wool 110 (106), art and handcraft 193 (265), implements 12 (4), shearing 64 (64).