Country spin on Ironman comp
Triathlons, by design, are moreoften-than-not by the coast, but not this one.
The traditional Ironman-style event gets a country makeover at this weekend’s Flaxbourne A&P Show in south Marlborough.
Rather than swim, bike, run, teams have to shear a sheep with bicycle-powered shears, cut a log of wood with a cross saw, and roll bales of wool around the shearing shed.
Flaxbourne A&P Show president Jo Cameron said the Ironman competition, now its fifth year, was a pivotal way to showcase the country.
‘‘It’s a fickle thing with country shows, you’ve got to lure the townies out.’’ Flaxbourne A&P Show president Jo Cameron.
‘‘It’s a fickle thing with country shows, you’ve got to lure the townies out,’’ she said.
The ‘‘townies’’ were encouraged to come along to the show on Sunday where there would be a huge line-up of events, including another triathlon-style competition with $1000 worth of cash prizes.
That race involved someone on a horse, someone in a ute and someone running.
And, of course, the much-loved Speights spouse-carrying competition was back, where competitors could win their partners weight in beer.
A&P show staples, speedshearing, terrier racing and horse and pony show jumping, were also planned, as were craft stalls, farm machinery, and fruit and vegetables.
‘‘It very much becomes a community event. Certainly all the locals will come and if they don’t we hunt them down and ask them why,’’ Cameron said.
The new shearing shed at the showgrounds in Ward would be unveiled at the A&P show, after the old shed, damaged in the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, was pulled down on Tuesday.
The new shed, 24 metres by 18m, was three times the size of the old one and was fully kitted out with electricity and lighting.
Cameron said she was ‘‘excited’’ about the unveiling of the new shed and said it was a great space for the community.
She was expecting it to be another good turnout this year.
The show gets underway at 8.15am with the last event at 5.30pm.
Entry to the show is $10, under 17s free. Cash only as no Eftpos at the showgrounds.