A&P show shines

The 151st Southland A&P Show was revitalised this year with perhaps its largest turnout in a decade.

The 151st Southland A&P Show was revitalised this year with perhaps the largest turnout in a decade.

The show’s president Paula Bell said: ‘‘The turnout has been absolutely amazing. It’s the best turnout we’ve had in a number of years.’’

Bell credited the marketing efforts that promised to bring the country to the city, and the range of activities that brought in the large crowd from show jumping, craft stalls, live music and live performances.

The event showcased Southland’s country flavour with bluegrass bands and line dancing.

Makarewa School’s kapa haka performance was a welcome addition. The school has a roll of 150 students, and 70 of them took part.

‘‘It’s important to acknowledge te reo as part of the heritage of this country and the kids just love it,’’ year 4 teacher Richard Goodson said.

The kapa haka group took the opportunity to perform to prepare for Polyfest later in the year.

Some of the more traditional events came with a twist as the cattle competitions were short on numbers because of mycoplasma bovis regulations.

The intermediate cattle showmanship competition was the only cattle event.

All the cows came from the same farm that had been approved clear, and the children picked them up on the day with only hours to groom them.

Other cattle events were judged on farms the week prior.

Changing shifts in Southland’s agriculture industry and the A&P focus on entertainment saw the sheep event become a sideshow

‘‘It’s not a big show, we have about 100 pens of sheep and if we can keep it at about that then we have a fairly loyal group of supporters that come back every year,’’ sheep marshall Noel Hamilton said. ‘‘The show is more about entertainment now days.’’

Southland A&P Show member and former president Graham Calder won supreme sheep of the year.

‘‘It does help to see that you are breeding along the right lines.’’

The horse events proved popular. Suzannah Martin’s Southwell Rendezvous won supreme horse champion and her saddle hunter also won supreme horse champion at the Winton A&P show earlier in the year.

With an estimated turnout of about 5000, Bell believed the event was highly successful.

‘‘With the new entertainment, the family activities and tradie stalls, there really was something for everyone.’’

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Placing third in the Dairy Cattle Intermediate Showmanship section is Sierra Bennett, 8, of Tuatapere.

PHOTOS: ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Suzannah Martin, of Lake Hayes, Central Otago, on Supreme Champion Horse Southwell Rendezvous. In the Cornerstone Church Carnival area, which was packed with free activities for families, making bracelets are, from left, Sam Beyers with her daugher Alice Beyers, 2, Anyia Hamilton, 10, and Adrienne McDonald.

Enjoying the live music and food stalls are three generations, from left, Isi McCurdy, 4, Andrew McCurdy, both of Dunedin, Eamon Joyce, 10, of Invercargill, Dara McCurdy, 8, of Dunedin, Terri McCurdy, Cassia Joyce, 12, Ann and Adrian Irving, all of Invercargill.

Some of the crowd enjoying the live music and food stalls.

Ellen and Graham Calder, of Kennington, with their Hall Genetics Southdown Ram, which was named Supreme Sheep. The ram is three shear age and won the Southdown class, before taking the supreme win.

In the new market stall area is Christina Mathieson, of Red Stag Soaps, Invercargill, showing Oliver Pera, 3, of Invercargill, some of her loofahs.