Many activities to organise a record-breaking two-day show

Press, 1 November 1985, Page 24

Many activities to organise a record-breaking two-day show

After serving a 15-year apprenticeship in the produce shed, the chairman of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr Lance Innes, has discovered the variety of other activities which contribute to a successful two-day show. This year, lie has had the task of organising a recordbreaking show. “When I first went on the executive I couldn’t believe so much went on. But two years as vice-president helps prepare you for this job,” he said. Mr Innes and his wife, Fay, joined the A. and P. committee as a way of meeting local people when they first shifted to their Rokeby farm 17 years ago. Both were involved with the Sheffield show before

moving off the family farm. Both are now partners in the 228 ha cropping farm near Rakaia. They grow wheat, barley, peas, clover and seed potatoes in the Barhill-Hatfield type soil. They are dryland farmers who depend on the average annual rainfall of 28 inches. However, the recent run of summer droughts saw some paddocks dry off, Mr Innes said. Had irrigation plans for the Lower Rakaia gone ahead, water would have been available quite close to the farm, he said. Mr Innes is a member of the Lower Rakaia irrigation committee and formerly stood on the Rokeby school committee. A keen sportsman, he has traded in the rugby and cricket of his Malvern youth for golf, squash and outdoor bowls. He enjoyed following his son’s fortunes with the Lincoln under-19 rugby side. Andrew, aged 18, is studying for a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce at Lincoln College, while his sister, Deborah, is in her second year of nursing training at Christchurch Polytech. The pair lend a welcome hand on the farm during holiday breaks. Mr Innes is sympathetic towards young people starting out in fanning. "We are going through a bit of a hiccough now and I feel sorry for the young ones who have to get out of farming,” Mr Innes said. “We thought it was pretty hard when we started out, but looking back it wasn’t so bad,” he said. Mr Innes, nevertheless, is confident about the future of farming: “I wouldn’t change — after all, farming will always be here,” he said. So will the A. and P. shows, which Mr Innes believes are a good way to get town and country people “mixing.” One well-known “townie” will open the 108th annual show: Sir Robert and Lady Thea Muldoon will fly from Wellington tomorrow morning to spend the day at the show, which the former Prime Minister will open at 10.30 a.m. An over-all record entry

has been received for the show, marred only by a big drop in sheep numbers — the lowest since 1975. Entries have been boosted by increases in pig, goat, dog, produce, cooking, flower, school, photography, painting and make and model classes. The latter, introduced last year, has attracted quite an interest from home sewers and entries have doubled to 33. Garments will be modelled along the catwalk in front of the grandstands tomorrow at 1.30 p.m. An hour later, 24 immaculately presented horses and riders will perform a quadrille in the main ring. The 22-minute performance is set to music by the New Zealand Air Force band and features scissor

and serpentine movements across the ring. Eight local riders will ride in the squad, which first performed at the 1983 Canterbury show. Mrs Jill Gould, a dressage judge well known to Christchurch equestrians "choreographed” the quadrille, which will be performed again at the Canterbury show next month. The premier jumping event for horses must be the Ashburton Licensing Trust sponsored Grand Prix Double which offers $5OO in prizemoney. “All A. and P. shows revolve around horses, and Ashburton has a particularly good deputation,” said Mr Innes. ' He speaks highly of the “experienced” horse committee, which has the set-

ting up of the jumping courses down to a fine art. Horses will wind up the show at 4 p.m. with a demonstration game of polo. Away from the show ring, there will be the usual large display of farm machinery and allied products in the trade exhibit area. Demand for space increases each year and Mr Innes believes the trade exhibits are an important drawcard. For those whose interests do not lie with mechanical exhibits, a range of craftwork will be displayed underneath the old grandstand. Included in the display is ceramics, weaving, pottery, spinning and felting. Admission is free.