FINE SUMMER SHOW AT KELSO

Southland Times, Issue 23975, 16 November 1939, Page 3

FINE SUMMER SHOW AT KELSO

Reduced Stock Entries: Good Flock Sheep EXCELLENT QUALITY IN HORSE > SECTIONS A large increase in the entries in the dairy produce section enabled the Kelso Show, which opened the southern show season yesterday, to record an increase in exhibitors’ support although the stock sections were all smaller than a year ago. The drop in stock exhibits was attributed to the backward nature o the season after a severe winter and the shortage of farm labour. There was little in the stock exhibited; however, to indicate difficulty in producing them in show bloom because all classes ot cattle, sheep and horses were well presented. The show was held in fine and warm weather and there was a good attendance, but the gate receipts were slightly reduced compared with the previous year, the preparation of land tor crops and other seasonal work preventing some district from attending. The gate takings were £65 compared with £67 last year.

AftPt nearly 30 years of valuable ' service to the district, the Agricultural ( and Pastoral Association can review . credit the succession, of useful shows held at Kelso. As in Previous years, the sheep section was the largest and particular interest centred on the crossbreds for which the district is . noted. The crossbred sheep section was one of the largest “i the show and the quality was perhaps the highest in New** Zealand. Many enthusiastic breeders from all parts of Otago and Southland regularly visit this show specially to see the flock sheep and they are seldom disappointed. Cattle and horse exhibits, particularly the latter, also attract considerable mterest. Yesterday, there were fair entries of both draught and light horses and the exhibits were worthy of stronger comgrand parade was followed by the usual programme of competitions which attracted keen interest, some exciting events being witnessed. me Milton Pipe Band contributed a programme of music during the afternoon. Following is a comparison of the entries in the individual sections for the

CATTLE SECTION The cattle entries were slightly lower than last year and the judges, Messrs W. P. Hishon (Oreti) and F. J. Keast (Middlemarch), did not have an exacting task. Competition in some sections was restricted to one or two exhibitors, though quality did not suffer because of this. Of the Shorthorns, Mr Hishon said the mature cow shown by Mr F. Chittock, was worthy of a prize in any ring. In the milking classes three competitors were represented. Mr F. Chittofk’s aged bull was a good animal and entitled to the championship ribbon. The two-year-old was a good average sort. The winner of the class for mature cow was described as a good foundation animal. It was shown by Mr Norman Clark (Kelso), and possessed a better vessel and better feet than the other cows entered. Mr Chittock took the awards with his two-year-old and yearling heifers, the former being particularly good. The judge remarked that the crossbreds made a fair entry, but of only average quality. > The Ayrshires were judged by Mr Keast who said that Mrs A. Wilson was the main exhibitor and her stock was very good, especially her two-year-old heifer. She took both championships. Jerseys made up a very good class, and it was noticeable that when it came to the groups the Jerseys carried the day. The mainstay of these classes was the mature cow. It was an outstanding beast owned by James Pullar and Sons. Other Jerseys exhibited were of good quality and type. James Pullar and Sons were most successful in the special, classes for pairs and groups. PUREBRED SHEEP In the sheep section, the purebred classes produced moderate entries of good quality sheep. Except in the Romney Marsh section, in which there was a strong entry, most of the other breeds were represented by the stock of only one breeder. This absence of competition detracted from the interest in the display, but could not impair the general recognition of the standard of breeding indicated. District breeders had little difficulty in producing stock creditable for any centre and this was a further testimonial to the general high level of district breeding. The judges of the purebred sheep classes were Messrs S. W. Ayson (Waikaka) and J. Holms (Waimahaka), who chose rams and ewes respectively. Both commented very favourably on the exhibits and said that apart from the lack of competition there was little fault to be found. Eight entries of Border Leicesters by Mr J. A. Edwards were the sole representatives of this breed, but they were typical examples of the best qualities of the breed. The champion ram was a very compact sheep with a splendid back, being low-set and carrying a fleece showing a good deal of lustre and character—an ideal sheep for the fat lamb trade. The reserve ribbon went to a sheep with a heavier fleece, but not so compact and well sprung in the rib. The ewes were a very attractive lot and the sheep which won the championships were described as being outstanding examples of the breed. In Southdowns also there was no competition, Mr D. Robertson being the only exhibitor. The ram championship was won with a sheep above the average in size carrying the right sort of wool. A smaller sheep won the reserve ribbon. The champion ewe was a small and compact sheep with ideal carcass. Mr Robertson was also the only exhibitor in the clothed classes for Romney Marsh sheep and he won all the championship awards with sheep oi outstanding deevlopment, heavily woolled. In the unclothed classes there was good competition, several of the classes containing up to seven entries. The standard of all the entries was good and district breeders competed with a good deal of success. In the Corriedale section, Mr J. P. Thayer exhibited three attractive rams, securing the championship with a typical ram, very dense in the wool and showing plenty of character and an exceptionally good spread of rib. The crossbred sheep are regularly one of the strongest features of the Kelso Show, reflecting the extremely high standard of the flocks of the district. The strength of the section wds indi-

cated by the appointment of two judges who spent a busy morning examining the exhibits: In their comments they were enthusiastic about the high standard reached and said that some of the exhibits would have defeated those m the purebred Romney Marsh classes, some of the growers having bred from pure strains for so long that their sheep were now, to all intents and purposes, purebreds. The ewes were judged by Mr F. Mosley (Clydevale) and the rams by Mr John Murray (Mosgiel). Commenting on the exhibits, the judges said that competition was particularly good throughout the section, particularly in the ewe classes. In the pair of strong wool wether hoggets, the three placed pens were well-niatched sheep in excellent condition with the wool in perfect order and would have been hard to beat in any show. The single hoggets had been similarly selected and were striking sheep. The first award for a pair of ewe hoggets went to a well-matched pair with very fine carcasses. A good heavy fleece characterized the winning single ewe hoggets. There was a strong entry of medium-wool hoggets. The winning pair Were very even in the wool with good heads. The first award in the single ewe hogget class went to an evenlywoolled sheep showing plenty of character. A good class of fine wool ewe hoggets was won by a big sheep with length and character in the wool The wether hoggets in these fine wool classes were not as good as those for strong wool sheep. —• ■ ■ Although held at the beginning of the fattening season, the show provided a very creditable display of fat sheep and lambs, according to the judge (Mr S. Callanan, of Balclutha), who remarked that few districts could show such forward sheep at this season of the year. Some very heavy sheep in prime condition were shown in the butchers’ classes and the freezing classes were very attractive. The entry of lambs was, as could be expected, only medium as regular killing of lambs would not begin for five or six weeks and the season had been backward, but the exhibits were in good forward condition already.

The Clydesdale section did not have as good support as could be expected at Kelso, said the judge, Mr R. Tisdall (Middlemarch). He said the females were superior to the males with the exception of the entire over four years. There was much evidence of quality, particularly among the young horses, and the display was quite attractive. The male championship went to Jim Bailey (imp.), by The Bailey, paraded by Mr A. D. Wink (Kelso). This six-year-old was champion at the 1938 Kelso show and was again produced in fine bloom. It was unfortunate that the horse had no competitor on this occasion, but the judge stated that at this stage of the season owners would be busy on circuit. Mr R. Hamilton (Tapanui) took the reserve ribbon with Remarkable, by Reputable —Snowflake (by Downs Sensation). Remarkable has a short show-ring record with wins to his credit at Kelso, Invercargill and the Dungdin horse parade. The two-year-old and yearling colts and geldings made up a fair entry, with nothing outstanding among them.

The judge was impressed by the quality of the fillies and mares. His choice of champion went to the two-year-old, Miss Crest, exhibited by Mr H. Kirk (Kelso). Miss Crest was sired by Craigie Crest from Glenalmond Bloom, and is an upstanding filly which should do well in any show ring. The horse has been exhibited successfully and caught the judge’s eye at Kelso and Gore last year. Mr Tisdall selected a three-year-old filly, by Scotland’s Superb—Prudential, as reserve champion, the estate of J. W. Lamb (Wendon Valley) exhibiting the horse for the first time. All the three-year-olds had much to commend them, while the younger horses also had distinct promise, with every chance of developing into really useful types if given the proper attention. The winning yearling was outstanding in her class and more would be heard of her. Her only fault was her chestnut colour. The Clydesdale Society’s medal was awarded to this yearling. The three-year-old geldings were ahead in type compared with the older horses, the judge stated. Pairs and groups provided very fair competition, with the young horses showing to advantage. LIGHT HORSES The judge of the light horse section (Mr R. Lochead, of Balclutha) had a protracted task because the exhibitors were slow in bringing their entries into the ring. For this reason the judging was not completed and the champions selected until the grand parade had begun. He commented that the horses entered were of a high standard and would do credit to any show in the province. The champions were particularly attractive horses with very little in points between them. The saddle horse championship was awarded to Miss P. Yardley’s Major and the reserve ribbon to Mr George Metzger’s Pilot. In the harness horses, the awards were as follows: Champion, Miss K. Wood’s Wee Dandy; reserve, Mr A. McMullan’s Perfection. The judge commented that the exhibitors could have classified their entries more satisfactorily. Mr Peter Whyte (Black Hills), who judged the dogs, stated that the section did not include anything very outstanding, the exception being the class for smooth collies. Bearded collies were only fair, while the rough-coated collies (dogs) were of average type and inferior in quality to the bitches, the winner of this latter class being a very nice animal. Smooth collie dogs were a good lot. The pick of the entry was the smooth collie bitch which took first award.

last two shows: — 1939 1938 Cattle 39 46 Sheep 210 264 Draught horses 74 98 Light horses 210 233 Dogs 25 20 Dairy produce 315 149 873 ' 810