Show competitor for 50 years

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 14

Show competitor for 50 years

ionoured to be the leader of this year’s show committee the president of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr C. I. (Ivan) Peter, will probably watch some of the competitions with mixed feelings. (his will be only the second time in 50 years that Mr Peter has not competed in the show. To many show followers, his is the name that figures so successfully with his horses and gigs in the harness sections of Canterbury shows. although Mr Peter is unable to compete at Rangiora this! year because of his presidential duties, the family! name will still figure in the competitions with Mrs! Peter in the “best turn out by a lady” while a son Mr Leicester Peter, of Oxford, will drive entries made in their joint names. Ir Peter has been making a significant contribution to} the pre-show preparation of their horses and gigs, | however. Ir Peter’s interest in shows has not been restricted to i competition as his services as a judge have been! sought for leading South Island shows from In-1 vercargill to Motueka, including two Royal Shows. ! Ir Peter runs a grade Friesian herd at Sefton, where he is the third generation member of his family to farm the “Oakleigh” property. In spite of his love for horses it was Mr Peter who made the change to tractor power on their farm ■ — it was a case of having to, as all the new equipment was designed for tractor operation. Ir Peter has made significant contributions to other community organisations, too — “if a district is worth living in, it is worth helping”. c life member of the North Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band, Mr Peter was a piper in the band for 30 years. A half-back for the Kowai Rugby Club in his younger days, Mr Peter was subsequently club president and a delegate to the North Canterbury sub-union, on which he was a management committee member for a term. Ir Peter was on the Sefton School Committee for eight years, including two as secretary-treasurer, and he has given 24 years service to the Sefton Domain Board. For the last two years he has been member of the Sefton Hall Committee. Ir Peter’s interest in the shows began as a boy when he | rode in the saddle pony classes. When I got too old to ride I turned to the harness classes; and at the same time began breeding hackney harness; ponies,” said Mr Peter. The ponies are not bred as a< commercial proposition but mainly as replacement' stock but “many a time I could have come home' (from a show) with just my gig and harness.” Ir Peter has no idea how old his gigs are. One belonged' to his father and the other, bought, about 1934 at the Addingon Saleyards, had been used for shows by the’ late Mr Thomas Gee, of Papahui. mother son, Mr Douglas Peter, is manager of the Rangi-, ora High School farm and a married daughter, Bar-; bara, now Mrs Ivan Campbell, ran a beauty salon in! Rangiora before moving to Christchurch after her! marriage.