Farm fun

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 10

Farm fun

City dwellers who find little or no time to enjoy the country will be happy to learn that the Summer Times organisers are bringing the country to the city. On Sunday, the Tip TopBlue Bird Country Fair Day will be held between 12 and 5 p.m. at North Hagley Park. At 12 noon the Bonanza Country Music Club will play on the main stage, and a haystack hunt will be underway with the chance to find some exciting prizes.

Celebrities such as The Man in Motion, Mr Rick Hansen, will be there. A Canadian, he is visiting New Zealand as part of a 40,000 km wheelchair circumnavigation of the world. As a paraplegic he has inspired many who are also disabled to try to overcome and live with their disabilities.

The Axemen of Ferrymead will begin their woodchopping event at 1.30 p.m. and this will run for two hours.

The Topp twins, renowned for their sharp comedy and vocal harmony with a country flavour, will perform at 2.30 p.m. In the display area, Mr

Dick Carmichael will show off his performing ducks and sheep dogs.

The Have-a-Go activities include such games as the sack race, egg and spoon race, three-legged race and more.

There is even an animal noises competition, which should be one of the funnier events of the day. Those attending the Fair Day are encouraged to enter the spirit of the day by dressing up in “country” gear such as cut off jeans, checkered skirts, ranch shirts, gumboots and so on. The highlights of the day will be a polo match organised by the South Island Polo Association. This begins at 2 p.m. and will be played in the field behind the main fair area.

A helicopter will demonstrate fire fighting, using the monsoon buckets used in fighting forest fires.

While all these activities take place, there will also be the usual stalls and displays, horse rides, tractionengine rides, a bird show, vintage machinery, shearing displays and a barbecue. No countiy fair would be complete without farmyard

animals. Everything from chickens to deer, horses and sheep will be there. Aimed at the family, the Country Fair Day should be one which all ages will enjoy.