It’s not a show without the Bells

Southland A&P Association judge Catherine Bell remembers getting up at 2am on show days to prepare lunch for the family and plait the manes of 15 ponies.

Early rises were part of Bell’s life during the show circuit in the 1960s to the 1980s.

‘‘The first thing done was to make a bacon and egg pie [in the early hours],’’ Bell, of Invercargill, said.

She and five others in her family are gearing up for the 150th Southland A&P Show in Invercargill on March 3.

Bell and her daughter, Dawn Kennedy, of Bayswater, will be judge the equestrian section, granddaughters Sarah and Georgina Bell are equestrian marshals and their mother, Paula Bell, is in her first year as association president.

Paula’s husband, Ken Bell, is the association’s minder for guest entertainers the Topp Twins.

Catherine Bell’s early memories of the show circuit stretch back to 1947 when, as a 9-year-old, she rode her pony from Rankleburn to the Kelso Show.

The group she travelled with included her father, Alan Robinson, and a neigh- bour, Ngaire Elder.

‘‘Dad had hacks and jumpers, he’d ride one and lead one [to the show].’’

Bell often travelled alone with her pony on trains to compete at shows in the late 1940s.

She was in the grooms’ area in the livestock carriages, which enabled her to feed and water her pony.

Riding in front of Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Show in Invercargill in 1954 was another proud moment for Bell.

Her daughter-in-law, Paula Bell, had no involvement with shows until marrying into the family 30 years ago.

Joining her on the executive of the Southland A&P Association is daughter Sarah, a third generation member of the Bell family to serve on it.

Sarah and her sister Georgina, rode at shows when they were 3 years old.

‘‘Little children getting a ribbon and interacting with the animals is great to see,’’ Paula Bell said.

‘‘It takes a lot of work preparing any animal for a show.’’

She is one of three presidents in her family.

Husband Ken is president of the Edendale Vintage Machinery Club and her sister-in-law Dawn Kennedy is the Winton A&P Association president.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF 635444449 The Bell family is heavily involved with the Southland A & P Show. Pictured, from left, Georgina, Sarah, Ken, Paula, Catherine and Bert.