Tearaway terriers at Taieri
As a punter, it was a tough field to line up.
Few of the runners stood out . . . apart from some fluffy and scruffy types which might not necessarily meet all the criteria to take part in as prestigious an event as the terrier race at the annual Taieri A&P Show, held on Saturday.
If they looked motley beforehand, the field looked even worse after the starting signal was given.
Many of the dogs wanted to chase each other rather than the rabbit lure, some did not want to chase anything at all, and one enterprising pooch headed straight for the stray plastic bag the rabbit had been in, rather than the beast itself — which was being towed away at speed.
If in doubt back the favourite though, and anyone who stuck with the defending champion was well rewarded.
Jazz, owned by 12yearold Johanna O’Neill, is fast making the terrier race her own.
After running second as a puppy, she streeted the field last year to claim her first title.
The 2019 race was a touch closer, but Jazz’s will to win was strong.
GREY skies and morning rain did not deter patrons from flocking to the annual Taieri A&P Show on Saturday, where a good crowd enjoyed a busy day at the Taieri showgrounds.
Getting plenty of attention was the Otago Regional Excavator Competition, in which a handy field of local contractors attempted a range of tests including pouring a cup of tea, digging a hole of a certain dimension under an overhead wire, and slamdunking a basketball.
Almost as popular was the nearby giant sand pit where junior drivers, wellpractised at digging in playgrounds, were handing on tips to their elders.
More conventional horsepower was on show thanks to the Clydesdales from Erewhon Station, in Canterbury.
Several of the giant horses were on display, and station owners Colin Drummond and Erin Cassie took advantage of a horse being bought from them by a local to bring their team to the show.
‘‘We go out to five or six shows a year,’’ Ms Cassie said.
‘‘It is an effort to get them all on the trucks and remember everything they need, but it’s worth it.’’
The horses are actual working animals, a reminder of the days before machines took over.
‘‘We are only playing with them compared to what happened in the old days, but we are lucky enough to be able to work our farms with them, in conjunction with tractors,’’ Ms Cassie said.
‘‘We breed them, and hopefully we breed good strong horses who are still capable of work.’’
While the Clydesdales still had tasks to complete, agility dog Forrest had plainly had enough.
Owner Veronica MacLean tried to coax him through one more run on the obstacle course, but as Forrest just stood and looked at the bendy tunnel it was plain the 2yearold heading dog/collie cross was puffed out.
‘‘He’s been going since early this morning, he just wants to curl up and sleep now,’’ Ms MacLean said.
For at least one participant, that was the Taieri A&P Show done and dusted for another year.