Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Plenty of entertainment for all ages
Get ready to gear up for an unforgettable day in the country as we celebrate the
98th annual Flaxbourne A & P Show!
Immerse yourself in the multitude of activities on offer throughout the day and and make sure to swing by at 1.30pm to witness the grandeur of the Marlborough Pipe Band leading the Grand Parade.
A special addition to this year’s parade is the presentation of a Royal Agricultural Society Centenary Medal to a worthy recipient as a memento of the show’s RAS affiliation.
For visitors keen on a fun day in the country, particularly animal lovers, there is a lot to see with equestrian events, sheep shearing,
Terrier race, and for those who enjoy a bit of good natured fun, there is also a spouse carrying competition to either watch from the sidelines or participate in.
Bringing wholesome family fun since the late 1930s, the Sturgeons Amusement and Side Show is all set to enthrall the kids again this year with captivating rides, fairground games, and delectable food options!
Top of the South Rural Support Trust and Federated Farmers will also have a site with a couple
of trustees addressing the crowd at the time of the shearing prize giving.
Always popular on the locals social calendar, the show is scheduled for next Sunday with show secretary Bernadette Gilmore, a veteran of 39 years, assuring all that it's an affordable and entertaining day out
for families, with adult tickets at only $10 and free entry for anyone 17 and under.
A host of additional crowd favourites are back for 2024, including the Harcourts Flaxbourne’s Future Farmer competition from 10am where children will compete in farm-related events, including: tag and tail a ‘‘sheep’’ (not real sheep), shoot ‘‘rabbit’’ targets with Nerf guns (not real rabbits), find a ‘‘needle’’ (Easter egg) in the haystack, set up a (non) electric fence the squarest and fastest, and lasso a ‘‘bull’’ (not a real bull!). The winners will share in an impressive $400 in prize money. Enter on the day from 9.30am at the Harcourts Gazebo.
Thinking of a fun challenge? Enter the Speight’s Spouse Carrying Competition. And for the adrenaline rush, participate in the Taimate Flaxbourne Flyer competition, with $1000 in prize money up for grabs.
Teams of three people, where horse and rider, vehicle and driver or runner, ride over jumps, drive a slalom course, and sprint 100 metres.
With an impressive $1000 in prize money up for grabs, be in quick to secure your spot in this challenge as participants are limited to just 12 teams.
Then there is the Ironman competition where teams of four shear a sheep with pedal-powered machinery, crosscut saw a log of wood and roll a bale of wool down the shed.
And if your terrier can run like the wind, sign them up for the Terrier Race, completely free of charge.
Proving popular again this year is the return of the baby’s vest knitting task.
Participants were all given the same pattern to knit from and the completed vests are being donated to the Maternity Ward at Wairau Hospital. It’s a fabulous community-oriented project.
On average, more than a thousand people flock to the show each year from right around the region, and competitors and judges for the various competitions hail from as far afield as North Canterbury, Kaikoura, Murchison and Nelson as well as Marlborough
Domestic pets are also welcome to join you on Show Day, with children encouraged to bring their pet, along with a story they have written about it, for judging.
Round up your day exploring the numerous trade and craft sites or sampling food and drinks from Ward School, the Seddon Lions, and side show vendors.
"Get ready for another great show and a great day in the country," invites Bernadette.
Make the drive to Ward for a fun-filled day in the country. See you there!