An eventful day

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 7

An eventful day

The Kaikoura Agricutural and Pastoral Association should look forward to a successful sixty-ninth annual show tomorrow, providing the weather is fine. Entries for the show so far total 1691 with post entries for wool, shearing and flowers.. yet to be counted and this figure is already higher than the total a’t the same time, for last year’s show. A further day of horse jumping events on Sunday — Marlborough Horse Society’s Circuit Day — is also expected to boost the gate takings. Attendance was down last year owing to rain on the day. ■ According to the president of the Kaikoura A.

and P. Show (Mr M. A. Syme), the showgrounds are very tidy thanks to the Kaikoura County Council staff but a bit dry, owing to the near drought conditions on the Kaikoura peninsula. The dryness has been affecting stock prices but as yet most fanners are not short of feed. In some areas of Kaikoura around the foothills and inland areas, small falls of rain have delayed the shearing and hay has been difficult to make but in general most fanners have experienced a wonderful season. Dairy prices have been good and production is still ahead of last year, said Mr Syme.Entries this year compared with last year are as follows.— sheep with 114 compared with 116 last year; light horses 368 (307); ponies 437 (368); jumping classes 184 (173); cattle 112 (101); pigs nil (1); cookery 50 (139); jams, pickles, wines 102 (53); handcrafts 117 (84); art

classes 63 (41); amateur photography 130 (188); goats (new section) 14 The shearing section has continued to attract a great deal of interest and to take advantage of its popularity, the number of classes for this post entry section has been increased to four. These are the open shearing class, the senior shearing class, intermediate shearing class and the farmers and retired shearers classs. Other items of entertainment at the show will include a performance by the Marlborough Highland Pipe Band, parade exhibits, a side show alley and Merry-go-round and a farm safety display by the Young Farmers’ Club. Judging will begin at 9 a.m. and the M.P. for Marlborough (Mr D. L. Kidd) will open the show. The Kaikoura A. and P. Association recognises the loss of Mr R. R. Laidlaw, a past president, life member and patron of the association.