OTAGO SUMMER SHOW

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 4

OTAGO SUMMER SHOW

JUDGING DAY, YESTERDAY The weather improved as the day lengthened, and in the afternoon it was beautifully fine, so that the people who attended—about the average number for judging day—had a, very pleasant time in watching the sheep dog trials and the pony trots, or in wandering round the stalls and discussing the official decisions. Visitors from a distance included Messrs J. H. Angus (Sydney vice-pre-sident of the Royal Agricultural Society of Now South Wales), W. Macfarlanc (a member of the council), Mr J. D. Hall (president of the North Canterbury Fanners’ Union), Mr A. L. Adamson (secretary of the Southland A. and P. Association). Mr W. 0. M'Kellar, the president, was on the ground all day, and Mr 15. If. Duthie (secretary) had a very busy time of it, yet ho and Mr A. I). Miller (assistant secretary) wore never hustled, their arrangements having been well schemed. SHEEP CORRIEDALES. Judge; Mr James Reid (Davficld). Ram, over 30 months.—D. J. Ross (Hillgrove) 1, J, A. Johnstone (Rushcy Park) 2, 3 and h.c. Ram, above 18 months and under 30 months.—J. A. Johnstone 1, h.c., and c., N.Z. and A. Land Co. 2, D. J. Ross 3. Two rams, under 18 mouths.—J. A. Johnstone 1 and 2. Shorn ram, under 18 months.—-J, A. Johnstone 1 and 2. Ewe, above 30 months, with lamb at foot.—J. A. Johnstone 1 and 3, N.Z. and A. Land Co. 2. Ewe, above 18 months and under 30 mouths 5, with lamb at foot.—J. A. Johnstone 1,2, 3, T. S. Little h.c. Ewe, under 18 months. —J. A. Johnstone 1,2, 3, and h.c., D. J. Ross c. Two owes, under 18 months.—J- A. Johnstone 1 and 2, N.Z. and A. Land Co. 3. Shorn ewe, under 18 months.—J. A. Johnstone 1,2, 3. Champion.—J. A. Johnstone. Reserve champion.—D. J. Ross. Champion ewo.—J. A. Johnstone. Reserve champion.—J. A. Johnstone. The Corriedales provided the greatest number of exhibits, and the keenest competition in the wool sections, and the Bnshey Park breeder, Mr J. A. Johnstone, must have been highly pleased with the honors which fell to his exhibits. There were practically only three exhibitors—Mr J. A. Johnstone, the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and Mr D. J. Ross, Mr Little showing in but one class. The Bushey Park sheep won every first prize with the exception of one red ticket which went to Mr Ross. This sheep, however, was bred by Mr Johnstone. The judge, Mr Roid ; said that quite a number of the Corriedales had also been shown at the recent Royal Show. It was an especially good section, taking it all through, and it was not an easy one to judge. The exhibitors had sent forward several sheep in each class, no doubt with the idea of ascertaining the opinion of the judge to assist them in their own ideas regarding the respective merits of their animals. The judge frankly admitted that it was difficult at tintes to discover differences of quality, etc., amongst the exhibits. He had placed Mr Johnstone’s ewe hogget as champion. It was an outstanding sheep, and had every requisite for a good Corricdale — form, breeding points, avid absolutely oven ilccco of a useful character. He had had to pass over a few good-look-ing sheep on account of small horns appearing. This weakness was, however, not unusual. As a matter of fact, it cropped out, so to speak, at every show. Right throughout the whole section the covering underneath the sheep—that was. the belly fleece—was particularly good. Mr Reid said that the champion ram was a low-set sheep, wide, with a first-class type of wool. Ho also considered that the reserve champion ewe, shown by Mr Johnstone, and the reserve champion ram, shown by Mr Ross, were very fine examples of the Corricdale breed. Mr Reid remarked that a great deal of interest centred round the Corriednlc breed nowadays because of its growing importance in the export trade to South America, and also because of the demand in the frozen meat trade to Britain. Moreover, he considered its wool would probably range in prices from 20d to 23d per lb at the wool sales tin’s year. In conclusion, the judge said that he had himself shown Corriedales at the Otago A. and P. Show' about five years ago. The classes at this year’s show were a good deal better than, they were on that occasion. The explanation of the few numbers forward in the Romney section is that many of the breeders have sold their best stud sheep to go to South America, and as they have had to be shorn they are not eligible for exhibition. Mr Grey was the only exhibitor. The quality of the Romneys was fairly good, according*to the judge, Mr Miller, hut some of the sheep were spoilt by not being straight on the legs, a fault which has not been uncommon in the sheep of all breeds this season. It is considered that the wet season and the fact that the sheep have had to bp* more or less confined, are to some extent responsible lor this weakness. The aged Romney ram was a good typical sheep, carrying a fleece of good quality and showing masculine character. The first prize -single ram hogget was a very well-covered sheep, with the wool perhaps slightly on the fine side. Otherwise it was a very good animal, fn the shorn two-tooth ram class the first prize winner had a fine blocky carcass—just the type required for the present-day mutton trade.

AYRSHIRE CATTLE Bull, calved since Juno 30, 1923. Gillies Bros.’ (Hampden) Townhead Victor 11., by Sir William of Inglo* wood—-Townhead Fancy JV., 1; G. R. Herron’s (Gore) Greonpark Bloom, 2. Bull, calved since June 30, 1926. Gillies Bros.’ Townhead Holdfast, by Townhead Wallace—Townhead Rosalia, 1; same exhibitor's Townhead 'Wallace If., 2; Peter Walker's Zealand Conny Latest Fashion 3. Bull and two of his progeny.—G. R. Herron’s (Gore) Greonpark Rising Star and progeny, 1. Champion cow or heifer.—Gillies Bros.’ Townhead Lady May. Rosbrvo champion cow or heifer.— Gillies Bros. Townhead Myra 11. Champion bull.—Bisset Bros.’ (Wangnloa) Porirua Stylo 111. Reserve champion hull.—George Fox’s (Pine Hill) Lord Clyde. CLYDESDALES _ In the Clydesdale breeding horse section Andrew Carrulhcrs (Ngapmia) won the marc championship with the dry mure, Fife Maid (Craigie Litigant —Rcvclanla). The reserve championship was taken by Craigie Baroness (Dunure Footprint—Avisyard Jess), a marc in class in foal this, season or with foal at foot, the exhibitor being John Young )Allanton). HUNTING COMPETITION Mr W. Hastic’s Mystery (M. Shine) 1 Miss Isabel Rutherford’s Perfection , (R. A. Ferguson) 2 Miss D. Mowat’s Spanker (L. Mowat) 3 Seven starters. The compctitors'wero required to go once round over a'Jog fence, three brush fences, and a sod wall. The second and third horses had to be sent round again before they could ho separated. The judge (Mr R. T. Kirk, ol Mosgicd) said that the winner gave an excellent exhibition with the exception of a fault at the third S. Iho other placed horses were led to_ go too far into the fences, and the riders took them round too slowly. SHEEP DOGS Judge: Mr D. Morgan (To Houka). SHEEP HOG TRIAL, open only to prize-winners at any previous trial. Mr J. S. Waddell’s (Waikaka Valley) Nell, 30 points j Mi;' G. S, Maze’s (Kakapuaka) Tui, 28-J- points g Mr R. W. Trotter’s (Kurow) Storm, 2o:J points 3

The only other dog to complete the course within the time limit (10min) was Mr John Purdue’s (Nightcaps) Sweep, which received 211 points. Tho remaining competitors were as follow Mr R. J. Anderson’s (Kauana) Kanana Maid, 25 points; Mr J. S. Waddell’s (Waikaka Valiev) Spot, 24 points; Mr Gordon Moffit’s (Balclutha) leg, 19. - points; Mr R. W. Trotter’s (kurow) May of Lintoll, 181 points; Mr G. S. Maze’s (Kakapuaka) Tweed 16j points; Mr R. W. Trotter’s (Kurow) Hazel, 35 points; Mr John Purdue’s (Nightcaps) Loch id Hon, 144 points.