JUDGES’ REMARKS

Matamata Record, Volume XX, Issue 2021, 30 March 1939, Page 6

JUDGES’ REMARKS

OUTSTANDING LOT OF SHEEP

! One. of the outstanding features of ' the show purely from the stockbreeders’ point of view was the praise that was widely accorded the sheep. “As a whole they were an outstanding lot,” said the judge, Mr. J. McNicol. Those bred locally, he said, particularly impressed him as being full of quality and even throughout. Competition had been unusually close, and the quality was a testimony to the great possibilities of the Putaruru district as a breeding area. He considered that the prizewinners were fit to compete with distinction at any show in New Zealand. . Mr. McNicol said he had seen the sheep at the show last year, when there were 67 entries, compared with 130 this year. He was amazed to see the quality improve as much as it had done. Last year he had not thought that the district could Trove improved on the display a great deal as the quality was then high, hut this year his expectations had been easily surpassed. : . '* •

Pedigree Jerseys Also enthusiastic in his praise of the stock shown before him was Mr. A. C. Lovelock, of Cambridge, judge of the pedigree Jerseys. Mr. Lovelock remarked on the presence of some of the best-known breeders in Waikato together with some excellent-quality Putaruru-owned cattle. In his opinion the display compared more than favourably with the stock at the major Auckland province shows he had seen this season.

The judge said the mature cow class was particularly strong. Mr. F. J. Savage’s cow, Moorpark Silence V.H.C., had had to take third place to two animals of great quality. Mr. Lovelock considered that this cow was showing the effects of travelling long distances. Competition in this class had been particularly close. The winnei*, an entry of Mr. J. Bones, was a magnificent example of the breed.

In the aged bull class first prize went to a locally-owned bull, Mr. JA. Ranger’s Windermere Boss Alliance, with Mr. J. Bones’ Greencr.oft Ace, a bull with an imposing show record, in second place, and Mr. F. X Savage and Sons’ imported bull Bose Marie’s Duke third.

Windermere Boss Alliance, which also won the championship ribbon, was described by the judge as showing plenty of Jersey character and as being particularly even throughout. A strong cla'ss was that for bull calves. Miss I. Leggett’s entry and that of Mr. F. J. Savage and Sons fought out the issue, with Mr. J. Bones’ calf aamning them close. The judge thought these three animals would hold their own' at any show in New Zealand. In the yearling bull class Mr. Lovelock was impressed with the winning bull, which he considered would Probably develop into a breeding animal of great merit. Hacks and Hunters Mr. Wynn Brown, one off the judges of the hacks and hunters, was of the opinion that taken all round the hack classes were stronger than three years ago, when he had an opportunity of inspecting them. He thought that the champion hack, Mrs. F. H. Baker's Thespis, could compete anywhere in New Zealand with credit. He said the hunters reached a high standard and were well handled. There was very little between the three placed horses in the champion hunter event. Children’s Ponies

The judge, Mr. J. B. Grant, said the children’s ponies were as fine a lot as would be found at any Waikato show this season. He paid a tribute to the show that it could attract ponies of the best class. Many experienced juvenile riders were present, and the standard of riding was a credit to them. On the flat and oyer hurdles the young boy and girl riders handled their mounts competently and showed them off to the best advantage. Draught Horses “ It is the biggest number of working farm horses I have seen at a show in Waikato,” said Mr. M. P. Skousgaard, who judged the draught and miscellaneous horse sections. While he did not consider that there was any particularly - outstanding animal he thought that the exhibits were good useful types and were turned out in fine fettle. One class that took his eye was that for two-year-old fillies. The placed horses In this class were very promising. Fat Cattle Ample proof that the Putaruru district could breed and fatten cattle to suit exacting export requirements was offered in the classes for fat cattle, in the opinion of the judge, Mr. R. A. Mansel. He thought the whole entry was a credit to the district, particularly so., when it was realised that this line of farming had not been exploited locally for so very many years,, Mr. Mansel said the quality, indicated the potentialities of the whole district. The prize-winning chillers were as good as would be seen at most shows and wepe suited to the requirements of this new trade. However, some of the beasts entered in this class were inclined to be overfat and wasteful. Friesians Mr. J. Cooper, x>f Cambridge, a noted Friesian cattle breeder, ; who judged this section, considered that while the section was not particularly strong numerically the prizewinners were fit to compete creditably at any other Waikato show. The cow and heifer classes ; contained some fins cattle of good type and conformation.: The animal ’which won the red ribbon in;the yearling bull class the judge singled out as being the pick of‘ the section. He considered ;th v at this bull should win further honours at the stud 'arid in the show* ring.. V' , ‘

Children’s Calves , ’ A section'which always attracts plenty of interest . .is that for the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Group calves. This year was no exception. Numerically there was a strong entry, while quality was correspondingly high. As the calves were not judged on type, but on the manner in which they had been reared, a guide to the judge was the manner in which they were led by their youthful exhibitors. The judge, Mr. A. Hazelton, considered that more care could profitably have been spent by the children in educating their calves and in learning to handle them. He considered that the prize-winning heifer was outstanding in the section ami was well handled. Milking Shorthorns Though the champion bull of the Milking Shorthorn section was an 11-year-old veteran, the judge, Mr. J. Searle, said he was a fine example of the breed and would be hard to beat at any show in New Zealand. He carried his age particularly well. As a whole the section, while not the

strongest of the dairy cattle classes, reached a good standard, principally because of the exhibits of two prominent Waikato breeders, Messrs. G. E. Conder and R. R. Dibble. Butjterfat Competitions Though not numerous, entries in the butterfat competitions for cows .and heifers reached a satisfactory standard, according to the judge, Mr. J. Searle. He said that all were good .types of dairy cows, with good pro- j duction figures for the comparatively- 1 short period, August to February in-! elusive, on which they were judged.! Dogs j Mr. James Risk, who judged the j dogs, said the standard was a great j improvement on that of last year. ■ Collies, more especially the smooth-j coated dogs, were the outstanding breed, while the sporting dogs were also worthy of mention. Garden and Orchard Produce j The judge of the agricultural, j garden and orchard produce, Mr. J. Bateson senior, of Hamilton, was im- > pressed with the quality of the roots, j In his opinion they compared more j than favourably with those of other ( Waikato districts, | The fruit display was also worthy j of honourable mention, the class for cooking apples being the strongest, j In view of . the present long dry ( period the display of flowers was considered to be very creditable by Mr. E. S. Day, of Hamilton, who assisted Mr. Bateson with the judging. Placegetters in the classes for zinnias, pom-pom dahlias and bowls of marigolds and salvias were the best blooms, Mr. Day thought. School Display The school display was particularly , fine and attracted a great deal of j favourable continent throughout the j day. Mr. C. A. McKinney, head-, master at the Rotorua High School, the judge, was enthusiastic in his J 'praise of the children’s writing and, drawing and the year’s project books, j He said the colour work' also reached i a high standard. Miss M. Milligan, of the Rotorua High School staff, who awarded the placings in the school sewing section, was also pleased with the standard of the work.