World-class show jumping and quality livestock

Press, 6 November 1984, Page 30

World-class show jumping and quality livestock

Showjumping from worldclass riders and the presence of some of the best quality farm livestock in the South Island will be features of this week’s Canterbury show at the Addington Showground. The show will be the 122nd organised by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association and will contain a record number of 230 trade exhibits, which cover all available space in the Showground. The association has planned a wide variety of entertainment for the public during the three-day show, which opens tomorrow and runs until Friday. The appearance of Olympic gold medallist, Mark Todd, will be a highlight of Thursday evening’s showjumping events. Other entertainment on Thursday evening, when the show will be open until 9.30 p.m. includes a mock battle and rescue by the New Zealand Army, dressage and Western riding displays, and

horse and pony driving and obstacle competitions. New Zealand’s top shearers will be competing during the show, the highlights being the New Zealand Corriedale championships and the third leg of the Caltex national circuit on Thursday, and the New Zealand Blade Shearing Championship on Friday. As well, as side-shows and fun rides, children will be able to visit the animal nursery where they can see many different types of animals and their young at close quarters. The nursery, located in the former shearing, pavilion, was very popular last year, and it will include sheep and lambs, goats, deer and a faw'n, donkey, day-old chickens, rabbits, dogs and pups as well as some wildlife. A local singer, Neville Barrie, will provide entertainment at the nursery at various times during the three days, and there will be free gifts for children.

Important visitors to the show will include a delegation from the Gansu province of China. The party will include the Governor of Gansu, Mr Chen Guangyi,

and the mayor of Lanzhou, Mr Wang Daoyi, and the vice-directors of animal husbandry, forestry and general agriculture.

Full catering facilities will be available at the showground, and they will include a new restaurant in Canterbury Court to cater for a more elaborate type of meal. Wine will also be available. Regular diners at the show will be pleased to see the caterers have replaced the disposable cardboard plates, which had a habit of sagging when filled with food, with solid plastic plates. Gate charges will be unchanged from the previous two years — $4 for adults and $1.50 for children. All exhibits and displays within the Showground (except for the sideshow entertainment) are free. Gates will open at 7 a.m. tomorrow and Thursday, and 6.30 a.m. on Fri-

day. By arriving at the show early in the morning, visitors would be able to watch stock being' fed and cows milked as well as having to cope with less crowd pressure. The focal point for most A. and P. shows is the Grand Parade, which will start at 2 p.m. on Friday in the ring. After the Grand Parade, horses will parade down the main straight at nearby Addington Raceway. The Metropolitan Trotting Club will present a silver tray and crystal glasses to the best turned-out harness horse in the birdcage. Also in the ring on Friday will be the final of the dog trial. Performing in a ring, surrounded by the distractions of noise and hundreds of people, will be a big test for dogs and owners. A new competition in the livestock section is a class for mohair fleeces. Twenty entries have been received this year and the association is hopeful this class will attract increasing interest in future years in line with the growing popularity of goat farming. Cattle entries are at a record high level and although sheep entries are down slightly the show will still be probably the biggest sheep show in the world.