Tasman region selects Young Farmer

Press, 29 June 1987, Page 3

Tasman region selects Young Farmer

Greymouth reporter

The Tasman regional final of the Skellerup Young Farmer of the Year award was won in Greymouth on Friday evening by Sinclair Hughes, aged 27, a Springston sheep and cropping farmer. He will now go on to the national televised final of the annual contest at Masterton on July 7. Mr Hughes won prizes worth $lOOO in the regional final, clinching victory with an impromptu address on how New Zealand should go about marketing its meat. A presentation was made to the host of the evening programme, the television personality, Bob Parker, who is bowing out of compering regional finals after seven years, but who will continue to compere the national final. Ten contestants from North Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and the West Coast took part. The contest included all-day practical tests and intensive interviews at Victoria Park.

The evening programme in Coxon Hall, Greymouth, drew a large audience. After several rounds of questions, the field was reduced to four contestants: Mr Hughes, and Timothy Robilliard, of Leeston, John, Abelew, of Korere (Nelson), and Anthony Blunt, of Kaikoura.

Mr Hughes finished with 184 points, followed by Mr Robilliard on 171, Mr Blunt on 146.5, and Mr Abelew on 140.