CANTERBURY SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 7

CANTERBURY SHOW.

MECCA OF SHEEPBREEDERS. OTAGO BREEDERS’ GREAT SUCCESS. LITTLE CUP TO BUSHEY PARK. (Feou Ous Special Reporter.) CHRISTCHURCH. November 14. The sixty-sixth annual exhibition of ■live stock of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which was opened to-day in perfect ■ weather, must rank as one of the most successful in the long history of the association, being of scarcely less interest than the Royal Show, which is held on the association's spacious grounds at Addington periodically. The interest of the farming community in the show was shown by the remarkably good entries forthcoming in almost every section, and the urban community exhibited its appreciation by attending in larger numbers than are usually to be found on the show ground on judging day. There may be shows in the Dominion which present a more general survey of the primary industries of the country than the Christchurch exhi-, bition does, but no similar display in this country, or in any country of the world comprises such a magnificent array of quality sheep of various breeds. Australia has its merino exhibitions in Sydney with a sprinkling of other breeds, and the English Royal Show gathers together breeds that are scarcely over heard of in this corner of the world; but— tlie variety and numbers of the sheep displayed at Christchurch annually are never surpassed a'nywhere else. This is the feature of the Canterbury Metropolitan Show, which compels attention more and more every season. The showing of the popular breeds of dairy cattle is always creditable, and the association never lacks a good representation- of the heavy , and light types of horses in me in ' this couiitry. B.ut the outstanding display must always be that made by sheep. It is worthy of note that this year the volume of dead stock exhibits in the form of farm machinery, motor cars, and a hundred and one household labour-saving devices have increased by leaps and bounds, reaching once again that high standard numerically which was the feature of the shows five or six years ago, The secondary industries appear to be waking up to the great advertising value of stands at agricultural shows. When it is considered what a wide renown Canterbury has .earned as the home of high-grade pedigree /sheep; the performance of Otago studmasters to-day in defeating local breeders at their own game and on their ground becomes more than ordinarily meritorious. The most outstanding feature of the Otago representation was the Gorriedale contingent of Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushey Park, Palmerston, who will bring back to Dunedin the coveted James Little Cup, a trophy presented by the founder of the breed for the best display of Corrfedales at the Christchurch Show, For the past three years, this trophy has been kept in Canterbury by the late Mr H. T. Little, of Hawardcn, Mr Johnstone having won it in 1925 and 1923. This year, however, although the competition was' keener than ever and. despite the fact that the death of Mr Little made no difference in the number of the entry from his estate, Mr Johnstone won the cup easily, having an aggregate of points greater than the combined points of his most serious rivals— Messrs Little. Hugh Ensor, and Owen T. Mr Johnstone’s total points were ®*.> ® e ?^ a J e °f H. T. Little being second with 20 points, Mr Ensor third with 17 points, and Mr Evans fourth with 14 points.

Mr T. S. Little, Windsor, represented Otago worthily in the Border Leicester section and Messrs Joseph Mosley (Clydevalej made a great impression with their Romney Marsh entry, Mr J. H. Andrew (Maheno) absolutely scooped the pool with a bunch of very fine quality Southdowns, which can have fc 'v superiors in New- Zealand. ", , Other Otago exhibitors were Mr D. J. Ross (Hillgrove) and the N.Z. and Australian Land Company at Moeraki,' both of which studs were represented by Cornedale entries. Johnstone was the only southern exhibitor of cattle, and he overcame all opposition in characteristic fftshion with his Scotch Shorthorns. BUSHEY PARK CORRIEDALES. Eor some years past the entry of Corrrsdales at this show has increased steadily, and this year finds tha breed represented by a total of ovA- 28/ out of a grand total of sheep entries of 981. Also every year there has been a stern battle between Mr J. A. Johnstone and T. Little for the Little Cup, and it has been usual for the possession of the trophy to be decided by at the very most half a dozen points. The Bushey Park stock mado no mistake about their supremacy this year, winning the cup by 45 points, thus definitely settling their claim to be regarded as the best speci.°f the breed in this country. In Tion to this trophy Mr Johnstone won the ram championship and reserve championship ribbons and also the ewe reserve championship, together with the New Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Association’s shield for rams. Some idea of the competition i n ‘he Cornedale section can be gleaned irom the fact that in some classes there were as many as 40 entries. These large entries, together with the remarkable uniformity of type and quality, made the work of the judges very arduous, audit whs late in the afternoon before thev completed their task. It can be said of the Lornedale section this year tbat it brought out an evenness of type tbat has been conspicuously absent from displays i Quality and type alike seemed to follow largely the same general lines, a fact which makes the wins of the Utago sheep exceedingly creditable. It is obvious that breeders arc at Inst realising that the utmost importance attaches to the carcass of the Corriedale. Without carcass the breed falls very far •port of the ideals of its founder, Mr B ,° u ßht to evolve a sheep that would supply the increasing export demand for lamb and mutton without sacrificing fleece. It i a apparent that breeders are now convinced of ‘ the danger of paying too. much attention to either aspect of the breed, wool or mutton and the result this year has been a line display of sheep that arc by no means rivals of the merino; rather are they good mutton sheep with a trim half bred fleece—a valuable dual purpose animal which must have a great future. In the aged ram class, in which there were two dozen entries, Mr Johnstone' secured first, second, third, and fourth P r '^ es ’ annexing the ram championship Y- 1 .- a ne quality ram in wonderful condition,- compact, and possessed of a great constitution. Again in the four-tooth ram class, the Bushey Park entry filled first place and also won the reserve championship. The shorn class for the same age brought the same stud two more prizes, a second and a third, and the ram hogget class, with 38 entries, yielded another second prize card. _ With his shorn ram hoggets and his pairs of ram hoggets, Mr Johnstone secured further recognition, although the red tickets went to Canterbury breeders, but the compilation of'the points for rams left the southern breeder Iv «*n advantage over his opponeuts. llie New Zealand and Australian Laud Company showed .some very fine rain hopgets and secured one or two well deserved prizes in that class.

The Bushey Park sheep started off well In the ewe classes, winning the first five awards in the ewe hogget class. The hunch of prize-winners in this class were reaj champions, everyone of thern, and excited general adpiiration. The fleece was in splendid order and of perfect type, and frame and constitution were exemplary. ' la the aged ewe class Bushey Park secured several awards, including the ewe reserve championship, but in the fourtooth class two ewes exhibited by Mr Owen T. Evans displaced a fine specimen from the south. The two first prizewinners in this class were not good specimens of the breed, lacking both quality and constitution, but they were preferred by the judge, a? the Bushey Park animal, which was third, was in his view, a trifle fine in the wool.

The Bushey Park shorn owe hoggets showed up only lcs« conspicuously than the woolled lot, and the pairs of ewe 'hoggeta added a. first, third, and a fourth to the Bushey aggregate. The breeders’ group of three ewes and

three rams was a splendid claea over which the judge deliberated a long time, eventually giving the red ticket to the southern sheep.

The show to-day was an outstanding triumph for the Bushey Park stud in view of the exceptional competition by which the entries were confronted, but another 'challenge has been issued to Mr Johnstone for the supremacy of the breed, as all the principal exhibitors to-day have entered large consignments of sheep in the catalogue of the Royal Show to be held Tit Invercargill next month. BUSHEY PARK SHORTHORNS.

Otago’s only representative in the stud cattle rings was Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushey Park, whose beef Shorthorns did an excellent day’s work for him. The southern stock have secured consistently keen attention at this show for several years now. even when the Royal Show has attracted keener competition than was in evidence to-day. Nevertheless, for a provincial show in a district so generally interested in sheep raising, the display of good beef stock to-tyay was very creditable. The interest that is taken in this brecW was demonstrated by the substantial cordon of spectators which lined the ring during the judging. In fact, there were few rings of which it was more difficult to got a good view. All the stock were in excellent bloom and to discriminate between the prize-winners, the judge (Mr D. Buchanan, Mastertonl had to get dow.n to a close consideration of questions of breeding and character. Mr Johnstone’s cattle, however, made by far the greatest impression, and the southern breeder wilt bring borne his usual budget of red, white, and blue tickets and trophies. , _ , In the aged bull class three Bushey Park sires annexed the awards, two of these having been previous Royal champions and one of them a consistent winner in young stock classes. Bushey Park Augustas Hero filled first place, his gay carriage and beautifully even fleshing being his distinguishing features. He is by the 10,00(f-guinca sire Edgocote Hero out of the imported dam Augusta Corinna, and was bred by Mr Johnstone. Of a slightly different type, but no less outstanding was the second prize winner, Bushey Park Lavender Royal, by Mount Lavender Royal out of the imported cow Cluny Bello the Ninth. He has all of the stock bull character, and is shortlegged, deep, thick-fleshed, and level. In third , place came Bushey Park Ringleader;-, a nicely-made four-year-old by Bushey Park Augustas Hero, out of the same dam as Lavender Royal. He is a level-topped roan full of character, with scale fleshing and substance to carry him further as he pats on the years. The Bushey Park two-year-old Bushey Park Royal Mandarin, by Bushey Park Lavender Royal, out of Bushey Park Nonpariel the Second, encountered no opposition in his class, so that he has started off his two-year-old career in the unbeaten style with which he finished as a yearling. He is a nice red, deep through the heart, well covered on top, and deep in body and in fleshing. The senior yearling class brought Mr Johnstone two more prizes, a first and a second. Bushey Park Golden Fame took the red ticket. He is by Lavender Royal out of the imported dam Daphne Nonpareil, and is a lengthy, level roan that parades exceptionally well. Second place was filled by Bushey Park Matador by Bushey Park Ringleader out of Bushey Park Nonpareil, whose only need at present is the time to grow down. There was only one southern animal Tn the aged cow class, but it secured the red ticket for the Bushey Park stud. It was Zealand’s Eliza the Second, by Windmill Standard out of Naenoor Eliza the Seventh. She is a fine old red matron, ■an imported cow, and hag won many prizes m South Island shows.

In the three-yearrold class the Bnshcy Hark stock again took all the prizes. Bushey Park Eliza the Second, by Bushey Park Augustas Hero, out of Bushey Park Eliza, took the red ticket. She is a roan granddaughter of the winner of the aged cow class. Her substance, scale, wealth of flesh, evenness on the top ribs and loins, combined with her character, made her a clear winner, but she was closely pressed by Bushey Park Jealousy, by the imported sire Rothicbrisbanc Dismond, out of the imported cow Naemoor Jealousy the Ninth. A-very good cow, even and level, Bushey Park Tea Rose the Fifth filled third place. She is by Rqthtebrisbane Dismond, out of Knapdalc Tea Rose, „ ' In the two-year-old class another two Bushey Park heifers were prominent, ■ Bnshcy Park Daphne being first and Bushey Park Tea Rose the Seventh second. Both are by the same sire, Lavender Royal, the fornrer being out of Bushey Park Nonpareil and - the latter out of *tbo Knapdale Tea Rose, The winner is a neat roan with all the character of her sire and quite as even and as firm. The other heifer is a white, nicely shaped, smooth and well covered, although she does not fill the eye as much as the other. In the bull groups there was a fine showing of quality and character, and it was impossible for the judge to see a way past the Bushey Park aged bulls Augustas Hero, Lavender Royal, and Ringleader. They were a uniform, well-bal--I°P’ ' v *th Just the extra maturity and finish required to place them ahead of the younger group containing Royal Mandarin, Golden lame, and Matador, a bunch of youngsters that compel attention.

The female groups, though not as outstanding as the males, were excellent specimens of type and breeding. The Bushey Park stock again winuing the red ticket. The group comprising Bushey Park Jealousy, Bushey Park Eliza the Second, and Bushey Park Tea Rose the b ifth.

Among the special prizes and trophies which will be brought back to Otago by the Bushey Park stock are the John Deans Memorial Challenge Shield, valued at £IOO. which has been in Mr Johnstone’s hands for three years now, the W. B. Cunningham Memorial Challenge Cup," held by Mr Johnstone for two years to date and the Challenge Shield of the Shorthorn Society of New Zealand. In addition to these awards, Mr Johnstone also secured the male and female championships and reserve championships. Bushey Park Augustas Hero, last year’s royal champion, added another championship to his already formidable list of such successes, and Bushey Park Lavender Royal, who won the reserve championship here last year, was placed reserve again. Among the females the champion was Bushey Park Eliza the Second, the reserve ribbon going to the aged cow, Sealand’s Eliza the Second.

MU H. J. ANDREW’S SOUTHDCrt^N'S. There was a very fine entry of Southdowns, about HO in all, with over a dozen exhibitors. The classes were very good and the quality of the entries left nothing to be desired. In spite of the heavy entry, however, the Otago breeder, Mr H. J. Andrew, of Maheno. the only southern flockmaster represented, showed the way to all the Canterbury studmasters, winning the great bulk of the class awards as well ns three out of four of the champion ribbons awarded. It was a meritorious performance which placed Otago in the foremost position, in the South Island at least, as far as the breeding of this useful sheep is concerned. Mr Andrew is to be congratulated upon his success, especially in view of the fact that he prevailed over all comers In the greatest sheep province of the Dominion. He w on the championship with a splendid four-tooth ram, a long low set type, with a massive body and a capital fleecl. He secured the female champion ribbon with an aged ewe, a compact even fleshed beast, nicely woolled with good legs of mutton and a pretty mover. His first prize fourtooth ewe won the reserve championship, a deep wealthily fleshed ewe on good short legs. Both were nice specimens of the breed.

In the aged rani class, Mr Andrew had to be content with a second prize only, but in the four-tooth class he took the red ticket, following it with n similar success in the shorn four-tooth section. He was also first with a very nice Avell.topperl ram hogget, and took both first and third tickets in the shorn rath hogget section. His pair of ram hoggets were nice, uscfill well-matched youngsters, and deserved their first-prize card.

In the aged ewe class the Mahcno sheep took both first and second prizes. In both the shorn and woolled four-tooth ewe classes he took both premier awards, and in the ewe hoggets’ class took first, second, and third. He was first and third with shorn ewe hoggets, and a nice pair of ewe hoggets, beautifully matched and compact in frame, won the first award in that class for him. He also showed the best natural condition ewe hogget. Among Mr Andrews’s special trophies are the James Deans challenge shield, which he has held for the past three years, and the Xcw Zealand Sheepbreeders’ Association’s shields for both owes and rams.

CLYDEVALE ROMNEYS. Canterbury sheepmen do not favour the Romney Marsh breed to the extent that they once did. and for this reason Messrs Joseph Mosley and Sons, of Clydevale, did not encounter very keen opposition with their well-known Riverslea stock. There were only 34 entries altogether, and not more than three or four exhibitors. However, the Otago stock made a very good impression and secured more than tlieir share of the prize money, including both ram championships and the reserve ribbon for ewes. The first prize aged ram came from Riverslea, a wcll-woolledspeci-men with plenty of breeding and character, and the southern breeders also took the first prize ticket in the four-tootH class. Their aged ram was champion, and the four-tooth was reserve champion. The same exhibitor filled both first and second place in the ram hogget sections for both woolled and shorn sheep, and won a red Jacket with a nice pair of ram hoggets. The Otago four-tooth ewe was the only one in its class, and there was poor competition in the shorn hogget and pair of hogget classes. Messrs Mosley and Sons winning the first-prize cards in caeh case.

WINDSOR BORDER LEICESTERS. Another Otago studinaster who deprived Canterbury breeders of many prizes was Mr I. S. Little, of C orriedale Station. \v indsor, whose Border Leieestcrs proved very much to the taste of the judge. In addition to many class awards, Mr Little also annexed both ram championships in the face of very keen competition. The total number of entries in this section was over 80, and there were seven or eight very fine flocks represented, a fact which .makes Mr Little’s performance a ‘cry good one. There were some good exhibits forward in the aged ram class, but the judge found be could not go past a pair shown by Mr Little. They were both big lengthy rams, straight on top and with a close, soft fleece that filled the hand well. The even fleshing of them both was very noticeable, and they were given. first and second prize cards. Mr Little’s shorn fonr-tootli ram was also an outstanding animal, with a gay carriage and line bone and flesh. He also won a red ticket.

The Windsor sheep found two or three superiors in the rain hogget class, hut in the shorn ram hogget bunch there was nothing to surpass n characteristic youngster from Otago, who filled first place in that class, and with another beautifully matched hogget secured the first award in the class for rani hogget pairs. Mr Little’s ewes were real stud sheep, particularly the hoggets, the'r wool showing .all the character and curia for which the breed is famous. He won the red ticket with a splendid pair of ewe hoggets and filled both first and second places in the shorn ewe hoggets class with the same animals. His first prize woolly ewe hogget was a good specimen, with the makings of a first-claea ' breeding ewe. Another. hogget with not quite the fleece of the winner filled fourth place. ONE CLYDESDALE ENTRY. Mr John Barr (Allanton) was the only Otago, heavy horse breeder present, and he had only a single entry, but he secured a red ticket with it. It Waa. the entire Sir Andrew, a nice brown-black, by Brunstane Duplicate out of Lily the Second, bred by Mr John Young’ (Allanton).