Siblings banned from calf champs
The father of two young boys who have been denied entry to their local lamb and calf day say bureaucracy is ruining the spirit of the event.
Phil Faulkner said his two sons, Cooper Faulkner, 7, and 10-yearold Zac Faulkner, were not allowed to participate in the Manawatu Oroua Boys and Girls Ag Lamb and Calf Club championship because they don’t attend a school in the area.
Cooper and Zac spend half of their time in Rongotea with their dad, where the competition is held, and half of it in Levin with their mum, where they go to school.
Phil Faulkner said they believed they were excluded because the Craig Cup, which is awarded to the school in the region that collects the most points through pupils competing, was at stake and their entry would interfere with a convoluted points system.
Lamb and calf day is a classic Kiwi tradition for country kids, with many fondly recalling the first time they led their pet around a ring.
The event is not held exclusively for schools, and pupils from outside the district are allowed to participate if they attend twilight sessions held before the event.
Last year the boys were told if they attended twilight sessions they would be eligible to enter the event.
Faulkner said this year they were prepared for this, but were then told they were no longer allowed to enter at all, even if they attended the twilight sessions.
‘‘They said because they haven’t been to school in the area, and one of them actually has, they’re saying they can’t do it.’’
When they pressed further, Faulkner said they were told it would interfere with the points system for the Craig Cup.
‘‘It’s not about the anymore.
‘‘It’s about adults and points and competition.’’
On the club’s Facebook page it states all animals attending championship day must have been presented at a school agricultural day to be eligible.
However, for children who wished to present an animal at championship day whose school wasn’t registered, the club could look at the possibility of holding a twilight competition, therefore making those children eligible for championship day.
Club president Judi Driscole said even though the boys lived in Rongotea some of the week, an exception wasn’t made.
This was because they went to school in Levin and that region had its own championship.
‘‘From our understanding, the boys’ family have decided not to approach the [Horowhenua Boys and Girls Agricultural Club], kids where they go to school.’’
Driscole said they sympathised with the family.
‘‘Allowing the boys in question into this competition could result in points not being available to the other children who are eligible to be there.
‘‘It could also set up some double standards to others who have already been turned away due to the area they go to school.
‘‘Our championship day needs to be for the children who are in this area, otherwise they are missing out.’’
Cooper said he was sad to not be allowed to participate in the event. He loved doing it as he loved working with animals.
Zac said getting ready for the day involved a lot of work, including brushing the animals, leading them, washing them and feeding them.
Faulkner said the reason the boys didn’t attend the Horowhenua agriculture club event was that the Manawatu competition was only a few paddocks over from their farm in Rongotea.