WHANGAREI CALF CLUB COMPETITIONS

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1936, Page 4

WHANGAREI CALF CLUB COMPETITIONS

BOARD MEMBER ACTS AS JUDGE SPORTING INSTINCT AMONG THE ANIMALS

At Matarau Road Miss E. M. McDonald presented seven calves. There was a large attendance of interested grown-ups, including committee members and their wives. Judging was held in Mr W. Martin’s paddock, and Mr G. S. B. Morrison, a member of the Auckland Education Board, acted as judge. Mr L. R. Going, assisted by Miss Going, decorated the calves, and presented certificates as under:— Calf rearing, senior: Hugh Going, 108 pts, 1; Marion Going, 107 pts, 2; Allan Martin, 104 pts, 3. Junior; Kenneth Rushbrook, 87 pts, 1; Wynne Going, 83 pts, 2; Maureen Martin, 81 pts, 3; Clara Going, 70 pts, 4. Dairy , type, heavy breeds: Clara Going, 1; Hugh Going, 2. Light breeds: Kenneth Rushbrook, 78 pts, 1.

In presenting the awards, mention was made by Mr Going of the fact that this was the first occasion on which a member of the Auckland Education Board had acted as a calf club judge, and thanked Mr Morrison, not only for his interest, but also for the willing manner in which he gave the fruits of his experience to calf club members.

Clara and Marion Going, members of the junior division, were not required to keep note books, but prepared a voluntary note book and were complimented by the judge on their excellent first attempt. Splendid Sporting Spirit,

A splendid sporting spirit prevailed among the calf - club members; but one can scarcely say the t same for all the calves paraded. For instance, Allan Martin’s entry and Wynne Martin’s calf tied for first place in leading. It was evidently a sore pointy for when the parade was over, the two animals made an effort to settle the dispute in their own way, and were only separated after a few minutes vicious butting and horning. At Ruatangata West, Mrs J. Lush presented nine calves before an even larger attendance of interested parents. First of all, Mr Morrison inspected the yearling calf of Hope Birdling, Zinnia, which won the competition there last year, and which is being brought forward as a yearling to the championships on December 11. Mr Morrison expressed disappointment at not seeing last year’s second calf as a yearling-r-that of Royce Cossill—but it is expected that arrangements will be made to bring this calf forward to the championships. Results; —,

Calf rearing, senior: Hope Birdling, 118 f pts, 1; Nancy Johnston, 116 pts, 2; Anthony Lilley, 110 pts, 3. Junior: Max Birdling, 84 pts, 1; George Russell, 83 pts, 2; Peter Russell, 82 pts, 3; Pat Birdling, Rachael and Maida Brown, 81 pts, bracketed fourth. Children’s judging: Hope Birdling, 1; Mervyn Drake, 2. Dairy type: Anthony Lilley. 1; Max Birdling, 2; Nancy Johnston, 3. Maida Brown, although a junior, also kept a very creditable note book. Little Rachael Brown; aged five years, was complimented by the judge on the way in which she had brought forward her calfi

A Rare Dud. Another instance of the lack of sporting spirit among the calves was supplied by the entries of Hope Birdling and Nancy Johnston. When the awards were presented, the red ribbon winner showed its superiority by tackling the second place winner and a rare duel ensued. The judge, however, poured oil on troubled waters, suggesting that the dispute be finally settled at the Kensington Park championships. Mr S. A. Brown, chairman of the school committee, presented the awards, and, to the ringing cheers of the children, the official party left the ground to be the guests of Mrs Brown at luncheon.

At Purua School, Mr C. A. Reed had conducted the children’s judging prior to the arrival of the judge. It was interesting to note that eight children placed the calves in the same order as the judge. Three calves reared right up to the morning of the paradd were unable to be present that day. Results:—

Calf rearing, senior: Marie Carrington, 118 pts, 1; Edna Holt, 113 pts, 2; Roy Wright and Frank Wright, 112 pts, 3. Junior:' Pauline Thomas, 87 pts, 1. Dairy type; Pauline' Thomas, 1; Edna Holt, 2. Children’s judging: Frank Wright, 1. Gilbert Peterson, 2. . Marie’s calf would not lead back to the judge too well, despite the fact that she had a good supply of sugar in her pocket. The judge advised this competitor to try apples and to spare no effort to train the calf in leading before the cehtral parade.

Instructive to Parents. Mr Thomas, in making the awards, and in thanking Mr Morrison, remarked that Mr Morrison’s demonstration of type in calves had been instructive, equally as much to the parents as to the children. Although the stay of the official party at this school was short, it was apparently appreciated, for the judge and his party left amid

a round of cheering, to judge the 15 calves at Te Horo School. Particulars of this judging will be published in the “Northern Advocate” tomorrow.

The outings were not without their humour for the judges. In one case the winning calf solemnly “shook hands” with its owner when the announcement was made —a sort of mutual admiration society.

At another school it was noticed that a boy had trained his calf to follow him across a plank. Asked why, the boy promptly replied: “Well, you see, I thought I might get into the championships, and then it would be easy to get the calf to walk up the plank on to the lorry!” The optimism of youth!