A SUCCESSFUL SHOW

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2449, 7 March 1931, Page 5

A SUCCESSFUL SHOW

Glorious Weather favours People’s Day. Large and Representative Attendance. Parade a Fine Spectacle. Tho Waikato Central Agricultural Association’a twenty-eighth annual ’ show has now come and gone, and all that remains is for ,tho results of this rear's autumn fixture to be noted among tho association's records. The show has left behind it a feeling of satisfaction not only with the show ■executive, but with all associated with it, tho public of this district included. As the president, Mr J. S. Fisher, mentioned during the progress of the •show, it was with considerable diffidence that the executive decided to go l on with the show this year on account the adverse conditions,, particularly which affected tho primary inPP(astries. Having this in mind there is Teal reason for all to be pleased with tho solid support accorded the show,. ' both by district and visiting exhibitors. The total of over 1200 entries was not far behind the record total of about 1350 last year. Favoured with glorious autumn weather on Thursday (People's Day); there was a large and’representative attendance from all parts of tho Waikato and even further afield. Tlio gate, takings of £l7O must be considered very satisfactory . being only £lO 19/- below last year's figures, when there was a record attendance on both days. Efficient Organisation. When allowances are made for the general economic conditions, which, naturally, have been plainly reflected :an this —a primary producing district, it can be said without exaggeration that tho twenty-eighth annual show ; ; was a very successful one, and all concerned are to be heartily congratulated. In every way the show was well organised and managed, reflecting great credit on all from the genial president, Mr J. ,S. Fisher, the energetic and painstaking secretary, Mr iEidgar James down to the official or worker performing tho most humble of tasks. . As we have said there can be)*iio finer advertisement for this district than the annual show. The fertility of the country-side was shown to ■advantage by the splendid aggregation of quality cattle and horses, and .was reflected in the fine array of root and other crops in the home industries building. The grand parade was a magnificent spectacle and here one obtained a composite view of the producing capabilities of the land, enhanced by the progress thafi continues to .be made in all branches of farming in our district. It is admitted the pedigree cattlo were not present in quite such largo numbers as last year, but quality was there, it being freely remarked ■that a great many of the exhibits were fit to grace any show-ring in the Dominion, Royal Shows included. For the 1 horse lover there was much to admire, and once again it- was demonstrated that Cambridge is the home of blood stock- and quality horseflesh. What a task- the judge of the hacks and hunters had, and it was gratifying to see fresh blood in those classes coming to the top. One or two of the veteran hunters had to take a back place in the leaping competitions on People’s Day, and while their owners may have been a’little disappointed they will have to L be content to recognise that young ft blood will tell in any circle of life. ~ t Judges’ Difficult Tasli. .- , The same applies to the pedigree catI tie classes. Here again the judges had an unenviable task on many occasions in separating the placed animals. Undoubtedly one of the outstanding fca- ' tures of the cattle classes, especially the dairies, was the uniformity in type and even standard in quality. (Another very pleasing feature was the good support again accorded the juvenile pony section, one of the most popular of the show, and certainly one that should receive eveiy possible encouragement at future shows. The children and their ponies made a-'brave sight. Bright ribbons fluttered, from manes that had been carefully combed or neatly clipped. The ponies seemed to know they were on show and the children rode proudly and well. The manager, Mr H. P. Hewitt, is to be congratulated on his section and it is to be hoped that the juvenile section will always have a prominent place iil tlio association’s catalogue. Other excellent features of a comprehensive programme that provided exhibitors and public alike with much to interest ,or entertain, were the trotting and the athletic events. The latteVoyere an innovation that appealed id , kany present.

Round the Side-shows. It was around the side-shows that hundreds of children and adults found entertainment and as the afternoon closed many were seen leaving the grounds with a variety of boxes undei their arms. These were the lucky ones for the majority found they had paid in full for their afternoon’s enjoyment in this department of the show. However for the small fry it was a day to get full fun out of''life and to have gone home with a single coin in their pockets would, to their way of thinking, have been an indictable We cannot pass from this department, of the show without referring to a very undesirable element, who pestered visitors to take part in some questionable games. The association would bo well advised to raise the standard of license for future shows. During tho afternoon on People’s Day the Cambridge Municipal Band, under the conductorsliip of Bandmaster J. Davis, provided an excellent programme of music, that added to the brightness and enjoyment of the day. THE CHAMPION HUNTER. TWO STEP WINS. The .hunting events are always an outstanding feature of Cambridge shows, and again this year lovers of a good horse and rider, besides the general public, were treated to a line exhibition. As the judge, Mr James Bull, remarked, many of the horses were fit to take part in any jumping competitions in the Dominion. Chief interest centred in the champion hunter event for the valuable silver cilp presented by that well-known enthusiast of hunting, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P. Eleven horses and riders went before tho judge and some splendid rounds were done, the event resulting in a merited win for Mrs C. C. Merrin’s Two Step, with Mr C. Merlin in the saddle. Two Step gave a well nigh faultless display and it is known was several points ahead of Mrs T. Ranstead’s Toby, with Mr A. M. Samuel’s veteran, El Arish, close up third. Mr T. Ranstcad rode Toby, with MiFrank Baker up on El Arish. Toby and El Arish also did excellent rounds but tipped the .wire slightly while Toby did a bad jump at the second hurdle. Fisher Bros. ’ Tui was also seen in a splendid round and must have been very elose to thb placed entrants. The other entries all gave good displays but by no means approached the horses mentioned. After the event the cup was presented by the president to Mrs Merrin and ho heartily congratulated her on the fine performance of her horse. Mr Fisher also referred to the splendid efforts of the other performers and congratulated the riders on the good displays given. Cheers were then given for the winning owner, horse and rider. Previous holders of the trophy arc: 1928, Miss L. Johnson; 1 1929, A. M. Samuel; M.P.; 1930, Fisher Bros. AN ALTERATION. JURY CUP POINTS. Owing to a slight mistake being made in the counting of the points for the Jury Cup, as published elsewhere, it has now been found that the winner is Mr W. Wallace, of Cambridge, with 28 points and Ml G. D. Hall (Kio Kio) runner-up with 27. Previously Mr Hall was credited with three points more than he was entitled to owing to there .being no opposition in one class in which lie secured a first prize. THE TROTTING EVENT. WIN FOR PRINCE PEDRO. The handicap trotting event for £lO, of ,li miles distance, was again an outstanding event of People's Day, a capitally contested event resulting: PRINCE PEDRO, W. Johnstone’s Syr blk gelding, 108yds (R. A. McMillan) 1 ENEWAII, W. Johnstone’s, 276yds (C. Brennan) 2 CONDER. BELLE, J. G. Brown’s, 60yds (owner) 3 Also started: Black Magic, 60yds; Nelson Girl, 72yds; Our Peter, 144yds; Dealer, 168yds; Daytime, 216yds. Condor' Belle led early from Pipnce Pedro, Our Peter, Direct Mourning, Nelson Girl, Black Magic, Dealer, Enawah and Daytime. Half-a-milc from homo Prince Pedro Tan up to Condor Belle, with Enawah, Direct Morning and Our Peter trotting on terms next. Prince Pedro turned for home in front of Enawah, Our Peter, Condor Belle and Daytime. In a good finish be-" tween tho stable-mates Prince Pedro beat Enawah by a head. Condor Belle was a length and a half away with Daytime fourth and Direct Morning next. It was a capitally contested race and the several owners are deserving of the association’s thanks for sending out their horses to trot for a nominal stake.

ATHLETIC EVENTS,

INTERESTING CONTESTS. The sports events held on People’s Day by the recently formed Athletic Club, through the kind permission of the Show Committee, proved very successful and attracted the interest of tho large crowd. Considering that the track was not the best, to run on, those taking part performed well. The entries were swelled by a large number of post entries and consequently the large fields which faced the starter made the events all the more interesting. The 100yds sprint was a great race with the barest margin separating the placed men. A similar close finish occurred in the 220yds. The winners of the 880yds and the mile race showed fine form, and ran welljudged races. The results were: — 100 Yds. —L. Chitty (syds) 1, C. Thompson (scr) 2, N. A. Williams (scr) 3. Time 10 l-ss. Ten starters. 220Yds.—St. J. Wells (Byds) 1, C. Thompson (scr) 2, L. Chitty (10yds) 3. Time 235. Eight starters. 880Yds. —J. Watt (20yds) 1, St. J. Wells (15yds) 2, W. Hicks (scr) 3. Time 8.95. Seven starters. One Mile. —D. Wilson (scr) 1, F. Hicks (65yds) 2, R. Calvert (30yds) 3. Time 5.8 4-ss. Twelve, starters. WEIGHT-GUESSING. EARTHQUAKE FUND BENEFITS. A weight-guessing competition held at the showgrounds on Thursday resulted in the sum of £9 being raised for the earthquake relief fund. Nearly 300 endeavoured to guess correctly the weight of three fat lambs, the collective live weight of which was ( 1881bs. Messrs C. J. Potts of Broadmeadows, Cecil Thompson, Bruntwood, and R. Melville, Cambridge, guessed the figure exactly. Each of these three successful contestants was given one of the lambs and each has kindly donated his lamb towards the relief fund. The animals were bought by Mr T, H. Welch at! 10/each, bringing tho total raised by the competition up to £9. The thanks of the association are due to Mr Harold Speight for his untiring efforts in supervising the com- ’ petition. , Home Industries Gifts. Several of the exhibitors in the home industries section also donated their exhibits towards the relief fund. These were kindly auctioned by Mr H. A.. Harris at the close of People’sDDa r , yesterday, and the sum of £2 8/3 was realised. (Continued on Page 6.)