BLUESKIN SHOW

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 12

BLUESKIN SHOW

Tho annual show of the Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society Was held at Waitati on Saturday. The weather during the early part of the forenoon was anything but pleasant, and it was feared by tho officials that stock-owners in the habit of exhibiting at the show would not put in on appearance. However, the sun broke through the clouds about 11 o'clock and, with the exception of two sharp showers which fell irr the afternoon towards the end of the show, the weather remained fine. Drought horses and oattle were the strongest sections in the show, but the entries in each section were confined to a few owners, who, realising that the alteration in the show date, consequent upon the influenza epidemic, would materially affect tho entries so far as exhibitors from outside the Blueskin district were concerned, were determined to make up the difference, and they succeeded in maintaining tho numerical strength of exhibits in these two sections very well indeed. A noticeable weakness in this year's show was in the light horse section. In former years a great many light horse oxhibitors have patronised the Blueskin show to such an extent that light horses have been among the outstanding features of the fixture. On Saturday tho only classes in this section with any strength in numbers were those confined to ponies, and even these were not comparable with those received at previous shows. In the past it has been quite a common thing to see rings of 12 and 14 ponies in the different classes, but on Saturday the largest ring totalled seven and the smallest four. Doubtless the unfavourable weather in the morning was to some extent responsible for this because ponies aro fairly numerous in the Waitati district, and many most likely were absent owing to their youthful owners Dot being permitted to brave the elements in order to attend the show. In Ayrshires, Mr P. Ireland annexed the principal prizes, securing firsts for three-year-old bull, cow four years, heifer three years, dry heifer two years, and cow any age with two of her progeny. This exhibitor, in addition to securing minor places with other exhibits in the olasses in which he carried off premier honours, was awarded championship cards for best bull and cow In the show. Mr A. Ross wad flrftfc in the

yearling bull class, with Mr D. Reid 2 and Mr J. W. Lamont 3. Messrs D. Reid and J. Jackson -were second and third respectively for cows four years, and Mr Reid was second in the three-year-old heifer class. This same exhibitor was first and third for heifer two years, in milk, and first for dry cow, four years or over. Mr J. Miller was first for dry heifer three years. Mr Reid was runncr-iip to Mr Ireland in the class for two-year-old dry heifers and to Mr i\ Dynes in the yearling heifer class. Mr Miller was second to Mr Ireland in the class for best cow bred by exhibitor. The competition in crossbreds was good, the placing in the various classes being:— Cow, in milk, four years and over, Mr A. Miller, 1; Mr M. Beasly, 2; and Mr G. Connor, 3. Dry cow, four years and over, Messrs Mitchell Brothers, 1; Mr J. Scott, 2. Heifer, three years, in milk, Messrs Mitchell Bros., 1; Mr J. Baird, 2; Mr J. Murcott, 3. Dry heifer, three years, Mr J. Perry, 1; Mr J. Jackson, 2. Dry heifer, two years, Mr Connor, 1; Mr Perry, 2 and 3. Yearling heifer, Mr Beasly, 1; Mr Perry, 2; Mr A. Leyden,- 3. Cow or heifer, bred by exhibitor, Messrs Mitchell Bros., 1; Mr Connor, 2j Mr Perry, 3. The exhibitors of Jersey cattle were confined to five breeders of these. Mr IS. Smith was first for two-year-old bull, with Mr Reid second; and Mr J. O. Lloyd was first for yearling bull, with Mr J. Scott second. The placing in the class for cows, three years and over, was: Mr Scott, 1; Mr Baird, 2; and Mr Smith, 3. The last-men-tioned exhibitor scored all the prizes in the two-year-old heifer class, and was first in the yearling heifer olass, with Mr J. Scott's exhibits filling the minor places. There were only three entries of Holsteins. Mr Reid* was first with his exhibit for bulls, any age, and Mr Dynes was second. Mr Ley den was first unopposed for cow, three years and over. In the classes for shorthorns, Messrs Mitchell Bros, scored unopposed for bull, any age, and for heifer, two years and under. The placing in the cottar's cow class was Mr A. Miller 1, Mr Beasley 2, Mr W. Hastie 3. For pair of cows, any breed, Mr Jackson was first unopposed; while Mr Reid was first for pair of three-year-old heifers, pair of two-year-old heifers, and pair of yearling heifers. Mr P. Ireland was runner-up in each of these classes, and Mr Jackson was placed third in the pair of two-year-olds, and Mr Smith in pair of yearling class. Mr J. Birtles had some very fine Clydesdale exhibits, and he won all the prizes donated by the society for this breed without opposition. There were some fine exhibits of utility horses, and the judge had some difficulty in arriving at his decision in some of tho classes. There were six entries in the class for handy farm horse, the final selection for places being—Mr D. J. Shand 1, Mr W. Hastie 2, and Messrs Wedge Bros. 3. The judge's task was not lessened in the next class, that for spring-carters tin to lOcwt. After considerable deliberation, and after consulting with his attending steward, he awarded the first place to Mr Shand's exhibit, and second honours to Mr Hastie. The competition was between these two exhibitors. Mr 0. A. M'Lachlari was third. For dray horse, Mr Birtlea

was first and second, and Mr F. Driver third, and the latter as first unopposed for j spring-carter over lOcwt and up to 15cwt. I The. entry of thoroughbreds totalled three, i but there were really only two of these ! which could be called thoroughbreds, the ) other being more like a halfbred. The ■ first prize went to Mr Dan O'Connell's Silver Cross, a veteran of the racing track. ; This horse has scored many prizes at the ! Blueskin Show, and truly looked the nart ! as a thoroughbred. Mr O'Oonnell was ' second with a young brown gelding and Mr j W. Gardiner third. In the roadster entire ! class Mr T. T. Ritchie's Royal Rothschild was first unopposed, and for two-year-old hackney, Mr O'Connell was first. There 1 were two entries in the 14st hack class, the ! judge's award going to Mr Meiklejohn, with j Mrs Conn's exhibit second. Miss Jordan's j Chappie was first in the list hack class, with ! Mrs Conn second, and Mrs Miller third. 1 Miss Jordan's Chappie scored unopposed in | the cob class and again carried off premier i honours in the troop-horse class, Mr Pryde j being second, and Mrs Conn third. Mrs ! Conn's Luigi was first as a lady's hack, Miss Jordan's Chappie being second. The las'tI mentioned horse has a fine record, having been placed first in different show rings in tho South Island on no fewer than 137 ! times, and he looks like adding to this total before the current show season closes. Mrs Conn was adjudged the best lady rider on the ground, with Mrs M'Kay second. For best lady's hack owned between Normanby and Palmerston, Mr W. Gardiner's entry, ridden by Miss Charlton, was first , unopposed. There was a good deal of inj terest taken in the ponies. For ponv over ■ 13 hands and under 14.2 (ridden), the nlaci ing was C. Hurndell 1, W. Aitchison ? A. ! J. White 3. Pony. 12 hands and up to 13 hands—Mrs W. Hastie's Lord Kitchener 1, Miss Dina Fitchett 2, F. Baker 3. . Pony, (12 hands) —Mrs Hastie's Lord Kitchener 1pony, 13 hands and under 14.2 (driven) —C. Hurndell 1. Mrs Bachelor 2, A. J. White 3; pony, 12 hands and up to 13 hands (driven) —Mrs Hastie's Lord Kitchener 1; Pony, 12 hands (driven) —Mrs Hastie's Lord Kitchener 1. This pony has now won 24 first prizes. Master Dan O'Connell was adjudged the best boy rider under 12 years of age on the ground, with Master "Dickie" Hastie second. Miss Dina Fitchett was awarded first prize for the best girl rider. Considerable interest was .taken in the jumping competitions. For best hunter, over three flights, Mrs Conn was first with Luigi. and Mrs M'Kay second. In the open leaping contest, over three flights, Mr W. Hastie's Dandy, ridden by the owner's son "Bertie," aged 13 years, was first, the youthful horseman being cheered when the result was announced. Mrs Conn was second with Luigi and Mrs M'Kay third. Mr Meiklejohn won the Bland Cup competition, over three flights of hurdles. Mr Robertson beinpr second, and Mrs Conn third. Mrs Millar's Ladv Bell was first in the high jump, and Mrs Conn's Luigi second. Mr A. J. White's pony, ridden ; by Master Bertio Hastie, won the pony high jump. j

The Waitati . Band was present at the. show, and enlivened the proceedings by rendering a programme of popular airs.