Rotherham scene of activities for 66th Amuri show

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 8

Rotherham scene of activities for 66th Amuri show

Strong entry numbers in the I>6th Amuri Agricultural and Pastoral Show, at Rotherham tomorrow, should make an entertaining day for visitors to the show. The horse events provide plenty of spectator interest and, as with many shows this year, Amuri has a new horse event in the Western Performance and Apaloosa class. A total of 1150 horse entries have been received for the one-day event. This compares with about an average 1600 entries in the three-day Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Show. The Mockett family, who are descendants of one of the first families to settle in Waiau, have donated a trophy for the Champion of Champions in the horse section. The show secretary, Mr I. i K. Dunbar, says that the I entries have been very good considering the season. In the cattle section, the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, to commemorate their centenary, has donated prize money for a new class. This is an inter-breed class for a bull of any breed born after June 1, 1980. The prizes are $25 for first, $l5 for second and $lO for third. The class has been well-sup-

ported with 16 entries and may be included in future shows. As a result of the new class, the total number in the cattle section has been boosted from 13 last year, to 42 for this year. Three cattle will also be on exhibition at the show as there are no specific classes for these animals. There will be two beef shorthorn and one milking shorthorn on show. Another strongly supported area is in amateur construction. New Zealand Industrial Gases, Ltd, of Sockburn, sponsor the section for the electric welding test plate. The company supplies the metal plates (a smaller plate with an elongated and round hole on top of a larger plate) to the entrants. Competitors have to carry out three types of welding and the plates are judged on the repair work and the aesthetics 'of the finished plate. Sheep and seed entries are down on the previous year but Mr Dunbar says this is simply a reflection on the year. Corriedales form the largest number in the sheep section (97 entries), with flock and prime sheep wellsupported (58 and 33 entries respectively).

In the stud sheep classes, there have been 46 entries of Romney sheep and 40 Poll Dorset, while 33 entries have been received for the black and coloured sheep. Other sections have remained at about the same as previous years except for the older breeds, such as the English Leicester, Ryeland and Southdown sheep. Mr Dunbar says farmers are now moving away from the older breeds in favour of Corriedales, Romneys and Poll Dorset. Special prizes of $5 each have been offered in various events in the produce section to encourage more interest. Entries for this year’s show (with 1981 figures in parenthesis) are: horses 1150 (982), sheep 450 (553), wool 21 (29), cattle 39 (13). dogs 32 (22), dog trials 58 (58). goats 17 (16), seeds 19 (48), vegetables 145 (114), fruit and potatoes 48 (39), cooking 132 (129), home industries 83 (74), needlework and handwork 278 (238), photography 298 (112). art 27 (37), woodwork 16 (15), amateur construction 17 (13), wine 25 (24). Flowers are post entry. Last year. 292 entries were received and this year at least three hundred entries are expected which will take the grand total to more than 3000 entries..